The Meanies, Spiderbait,Wicked City, Money For Rope @The Hifi, Melbourne(19/06/2010)

Mon 21st Jun, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Twenty-one years ago to the month, four young fellas joined forces in an act of fate that would prove to be poignant to the landscape of Australia’s underground music scene. This group of guys were compelled to answer an advertisement to form a band drawing on musical influences such as The Ramones and Radio Birdman . The ad, put out by a very loose but no less incredibly talented showman and song-writer, singlehandedly went on to redefine Australian music, particularly punk music, and the way bands were to market themselves – so much so that this group were well ahead of their time. They called themselves The Meanies and, adopting the very Ramones-esque pseudonym “Meanie” as surnames – the original line-up consisted of Link , Wally , DD , and Ringo – they have gone on to impress, inspire, and influence many other bands and punters for over two decades.

So back to the present, June 19th 2010, and the Hi-Fi Bar on Melbourne’s Swanston Street would play to The Meanies “21st birthday bash”, with the promoters pulling out all the stops to ensure that everyone “invited” made this one hell of a birthday shindig for the seminal rockers.

Melbourne’s own Money For Rope kicked off the festivities, entertaining the small yet appreciative crowd that had gathered early with their unique blend of garage and soul. Their music is cool, very much suited to the Hi-Fi atmosphere, and they seemed to be having fun with their set, and being a part of a striking bill.

Next up were the surprisingly impressive Wicked City. A band that I had never heard of before, yet was compelled to go buy their latest LP “With Wings” from the merch tent immediately after their heavy, yet funky, set. Wicked City is a three piece outfit also hailing from Melbourne, comprising of Nick Grammenos on guitar, Pat Warner on drums and Patto Millman on bass, with each member contributing on vocals. Quite well too, I might add. In fact, watching Warner smash his drums like a madman and all the while holding a flawless tune prompted one onlooker (no doubt in anticipation of the following act) to ask, “how many singing-drummers do we need?”. Wicked City’s are something of a cross between At The Drive-In and Queens of the Stone Age, and I urge everyone to go check them out when they come to a venue near you – you will not be disappointed.

The next band up was the intriguingly named Jam, Kit and Wanet, but none of the punters that were packed into the Hi-Fi by that stage were under any illusions as to what to expect from this cryptically-named trio. Jam, Kit and Wanet proved to be the hugely popular Spiderbait , who had adopted an alter-ego band-name in a gesture one can only assume was so as to not show up the birthday boys. Historically, The Meanies paved the way for Aussie acts such as Spiderbait and Tumbleweed to name but two, taking these bands on tour on the back of The Meanies, by-then, massively notorious stage show. The love was let flow, with drummer Kram (or Jam) regularly taking the time in between songs to build up the anticipation of the main-act, and gush over the influence and respect he and his bandmates have for the oz-punk stalwarts.

Spiderbait drew on material from their highly successful career, with tracks from all of their albums, including Shashavaglava and The Unfinished Spanish Galleon… , getting a look-in, in what was a well received, if rather patchy-sounding set. Highlights were obviously the somewhat annoyingly-catchy and “everywhere” cover of Leadbelly ’s Black Betty , Old Man Sam , and Triple J’s 1996 Hottest 100 winner Buy Me a Pony .

Then came the moment we were all waiting for. The MC for the night introduced The Meanies in glowing terms, just before a massive cake was wheeled out by the band’s roadies. Of course, shortly after a scantly clad female was to spring from the cake, throw handfuls of it at the crowd, then quickly depart as Link and his Meanies thanked the super-hyped audience, and launched into their set. Joined onstage by relatively recent recruit, Jaws , I have to say that The Meanies sounded as good as I have ever heard them. They were tight, enthusiastic and loud, and their set, again, drew on the band’s entire history.

Front-man Link (aka Lindsay McLennan ) Meanie is an absolute doyen of Oz-rock. How this hyperactive and self-harming lead-singer does not get referred to in the same breath as some of the icons of Australian music is beyond me, and undoubtedly anyone who has had the honour of following this man’s modest but impressive career. As has been stated in numerous reviews and interviews previously, speak to Link offstage and the uninitiated would not even guess that this shy yet approachable guy is even in a band, such is his humbleness and enthusiasm in conversing with anyone and everyone who wishes to soak up some of his time. In saying that however, as soon as the man gets on stage, in something reminiscent of football’s “white-line-fever”, a glaze fills his eyes and he lets loose – keeping the audience holding-their collective breath as they wait to see just what the guy will do next. He has no regard for his own safety, as he does his absolute best to ensure that everyone at the show goes home knowing they have just witnessed yet another iconic and haphazard Meanies performance.

I saw Link’s “other band”, Bakelight Age , a few months back and, at that time, he was nursing a broken collar-bone throughout their set, sling and all. About three-quarters through the birthday bash, whilst throwing himself around the stage in typical Link Meanie fervour, the singer grabbed the mic and exclaimed that he’d “just heard a snap”. Collar-bone being firmly held in place by his left hand, Linky predicted “looks like I’m getting another metal plate in my back. It’s lucky that I like METAL!!” Don’t think for one second, however, that this would stop the manic Meanies set in its tracks though. Link continued to sing – and dance nonetheless – for the rest of the set. You’re only 21 once, after all.

Throughout the 90 minute-plus strong set, Link would often stop to trade banter with the crowd and his bandmates as he usually does. He spoke about how great the two decades had been for his band, and how they used to tour with bands such as the aforementioned Spiderbait back when The Meanies were at the height of their powers. He did lament however that “we never did quite make it as big as those other guys”, but he said it tongue firmly in cheek. One gets the impression that these guys just love playing together, and they wouldn’t change one bit of their two-decade strong history for anything.

The Meanies trotted out a plethora of crowd favourites throughout the night. Songs such as Ten Percent Weird , Ton Of Bricks , Conan , and Steve Sex God got a run to name but a few. If there was any downside to the night, it was that integral elements of the Meanies cog – the late DD and Tas Meanie – were not there to share in the glory of this love-in occasion. So let’s raise our glasses in memory of those guys, and to toast one of the most influential bands this country has ever seen. The Meanies are as strong as they have ever been throughout a remarkable stretch of creativity and longevity, and here’s to many more birthday bashes. I for one hope I am around for their thirtieth.