The Frowning Clouds @ GraceDarling, Melbourne (17/12/09)

Sun 20th Dec, 2009 in Gig Reviews

If you think modern music is all about electronic soundscapes and flashy colours, The Frowning Clouds are out to prove you wrong. Collingwood’s Grace Darling Hotel was perfect venue for this band, with a vintage vibe that mirrored the rustic old-school “let’s play it on vinyl” sound of The Frowning Clouds.

First support act The Bonniwells met a packed venue with rasping vocals over a steady drumbeat, setting the mood of the night as a homage to the yesteryear of sixties rock. They’re fun and quirky and their bowl cut-sporting percussionist can coordinate maraca and tambourine shaking with the enthusiastic ambidexterity of a seasoned professional.

Melbourne rockers The Last Gypsys were the epitome of laidback cool, all skinny jeans, crucifix chains and glittery scarves. Long haired lead singer Mark wore a string headband, evoking images of Wes Carr as a flower child. The Last Gypsys have perfected the art of soulful melody, with crooning lyrics and soft verses accompanied by raw, strum-your-heart-out choruses. First song Born To Fade is a transient blues lullaby. Lyrics like “scratching out my eyes so I can see you smile” set the tone of melancholic simplicity which was echoed in Lost In The Woods, a dark and moody number with deep vocals Ian Curtis would be proud of. After playing a cover of The Beatles’ It’s All Too Much, Mark noted “The Beatles probably did it better”. Well, probably. But it sure was fun anyway.

When The Frowning Clouds took to the stage you could be forgiven for thinking you’d travelled half a century back in time. Apart from being talented musicians with a penchant for all things sixties, these boys are a whole lot of fun. They make the kind of music you want to jump around to and they play it with boundless energy. The crowd of ubercool indie kids caught onto this quickly, shaking the floor and tables with their wild dancing.

The Geelong five piece certainly looked the part. Vocalist Zak, a member of all three bands who was referred to by last gypsy Mark as “one of those annoying people who is good at everything”, entered wearing a crimson velvet cape. Sharing vocal duties was Nick, sporting a dark trench coat while the other band members were scruffy mop-tops over turtleneck sweaters and shirts with top buttons fastened.

Making no attempt to retain the stone-faced gazes of coolly disinterested instrumentalists, The Frowning Clouds bopped around the stage with the energy and excitement of restless children. Rock n’ roll tune Lovin’ You was a highlight, with babyfaced drummer Ben almost bounding out of his seat as Nick pined lyrics of resentful romance – “How could you deceive me girl? I bought you flowers all the time”.

During a rendition of Tiger Heart, a track from the band’s EP, Nick whipped out a harmonica and danced around the microphone. Complete with frequent crowd pleasing screams of “Aaaaaalright!” and “Everybody feel it!” these guys happily channeled old school beat music with a soulful edge. But although they exude old-worldly charm, they are more than a token band of sixties nostalgia.

They incorporated an interlude of The Isley Brothers’ 1959 hit Shout! into their closing anthem and the night was lost to the smiling joy of good old fashioned rock n’ roll.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS OF THE GIG HERE