I Heart Hiroshima, DZ, TheWeevils @ Jive, Adelaide(22/08/09)

Wed 26th Aug, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Once again we find ourselves in the familiar second home that is Jive. With one notable improvement, namely ‘legendary indie producer’ (thank you Rolling Stone!) Matt Hills manning the desk as in-house mixer. Thank god, a great start to the night already!

We got ourselves a beer from the lovely bar staff, and sat down to listen to Adelaide band The Weevils, who by the end of the set were about as welcome as their namesake in the flour jar. It was quite clear they were great musos, and the word we heard around the room was that their old band was sensational, so it was perplexing to us as to why they would give the impression of not being able to actually play. Deliberately, apparently. We hear it’s their ‘thing’. We’ll say one thing to these guys – when you’re on a stage, you’re not merely playing for yourselves anymore. People (not us, we’ll admit) paid money to see you tonight, and to have an apparent disregard for this fact does bother us. Was it arrogance, or self-destructiveness?

Luckily the next two bands proved that “garage rock” does not have to be bad on purpose. DZ (joining I Heart Hiroshima on tour from Brisbane) came on next, and quite frankly wiped the floor with The Weevils, leaving nary a trace of the last set. This is how rock is meant to be played: with passion, heart and a focus outwards, not inwards. The crowd immediately started gravitating towards the stage during their set, us included. DZ were loud, raw, raucous…and brilliant! Sonically inspired, creative, and most importantly – fun. The guys were happy to be on stage and gave a great show, responding to the crowd’s enthusiasm.

Sound-wise there’s some dissent in your reviewer’s ranks: Doug names Fu Manchu, Jayne drops Sonic Youth, and we both agree on awesome. Their tasteful use of effects means they are the first two-piece we’ve ever seen who don’t need a bassist to fill up the emptiness that plagues many similar bands. The drummer, according to Cameron from I Heart Hiroshima, is actually a guitarist by trade, and it certainly shows in a good way. The drums were melodic, while holding down a solid rhythm at the same time. After chatting to them after the gig, we found them to be amazingly nice guys, and will be front and centre next time they tour.

I Heart Hiroshima have been playing for a few years now, and it really shows. Touring has done them wonders – we have seen them go from strength to strength. Effortlessly catchy, and oh-so-endearing, the crowd lapped up every note and then cried for more. For the uninitiated, I Heart Hiroshima can be compared to The Grates, but with a darker, more serious edge to their infectious, off-kilter pop. For long-time fans, the newer material is getting even darker again, while retaining its gorgeous pop sensibilities. The band play like a well-oiled machine, and their stage presence is overwhelming at times. Drummer/vocalist Susie is an intense, magnetic co-frontperson, even while being at the back of the stage. We always love a musician who invites everyone in, and Susie has one of the best stage personas we’ve seen. Cameron and Matt (both share the role of guitarist/vocalist) have a minimalist approach to their music, but the interplay of these two simple melodies create something so much greater than the sum of its parts. It’s intoxicating to watch, and of course, to listen to. They were already great to begin with, but we are genuinely excited to see what the future brings for this Brisbane three-piece.

I Heart Hiroshima are coming back to Adelaide towards the end of the year. We invited a friend along who hadn’t heard them before, and he left the venue a convert, his arms filled with their entire back-catalogue. Come along and see them next time, you will be converted too!