The Nation Blue, SixFtHick @The Espy, Melbourne(06/09/2009)

Mon 7th Sep, 2009 in Gig Reviews

As you well know, SixFtHick are the Brisbane 5-piece group lead by those two irritated sweaty men that celebrate hostility in a way that would do both Jello Biafra and Iggy Pop mighty proud. Whilst the crowd and the band at times seemed restrained throughout the duration of their set, brother’s Corbett were persistent in denying the audience their right to feel at ease. Lyrically they embrace life’s disgraceful moments, the dark, sleazy, alcohol fuelled nature that can only be derived from personal experience. SixFtHick sound like a fight, and approach their live show as if it’s a threat to their existence. As entertaining as the band were tonight, this probably wasn’t the standout performance of their 13+ year history, but without SixFtHick the night would have definitely lost some of its character.

The Nation Blue has embarked on a national tour launching their latest album Rising Waters, self proclaimed as their “…laziest album to date”. Tonight was the second show of the tour and the first chance for the band to showcase this material to a Melbourne crowd since the release of the album. A comfortable sized crowd in the Espy’s Gershwin Room greeted the band to the slow ominous drone of the albums opener and title track Rising Waters. It’s very clear from the beginning that The Nation Blue don’t take anything lightly, If Not For The Good Things That I’ve Done sets a morbid tone that infects the briefly hesitant crowd and demands attention.

The Nation Blue play with this intuitive cohesion that goes above and beyond what most bands are capable of, all whilst getting closer to that fine line nearing disaster when it all falls apart. Standout tracks such as We Lost Everything and Sedition from their previous album Protest Songs allow the audience to re-familiarise themselves with the bands impressive back catalogue of material. They stand to lose nothing from their shows which are a demonstration of the moment and an indignant deconstruction of familiarity, performed as if it’s the last time these songs are ever going to be played. It’s their entire career that’s bottled up in this set, feverish emotion and pent up anger restrict their desire to conform or approach it in a “conventional” manner as is recognised in such songs as I See Colours and Trespass. It seems they acknowledge the stale, unattractive and usually repetitive clichés of modern rock music and replace it with an emotional expression that most bands lack.

Briefly cracking a smile to a punter’s opinion of “…that was better than average”, The Nation Blue launch back into their set again unannounced. Dissonance is exploited and embraced to replace the superficial banter that usually echoes throughout the breaks in songs. In the tracks performed from albums Damnation to Rising Waters it’s very clear that every song is a protest. A protest against the people, places, forces, and ideals that seek to alienate and degrade mankind, or simply the stupidity and ignorance that one confronts on a daily basis. This protest is delivered with the harsh confrontation that’s become a trademark of The Nation Blue’s live show. Both physically and musically, with the guidance of carefully placed roundhouse kicks, The Nation Blue want to make sure there voice is heard and that you walk away with an opinion.

Taking a slower approach in the middle of the set the band explores themes of regret, hopelessness and desperation resolved by an optimistic outlook that proves challenging to some of the audience. I’m Inbred and a cover heavily distorted beyond musical recognition concludes the night, with enlisted assistance from those Corbett’s, other members of SixFtHick and around who’s persistence spark’s sufficient crowd response.

On stage The Nation Blue live their songs. They are a confronting experience that is adapted to the moment and expressed from a deeply personal level. Tonight was a brilliant performance and celebrated the release of Rising Waters in a most entertaining and confronting manner. What the members of The Nation Blue would do without this band is anyone’s guess. But if it involved all three members living the intense frustration and downright aggression released in this set they’d find a warm home only deep within the walls of Barwon prison.