The Go Between Bridge Concert(25/06/10)

Mon 28th Jun, 2010 in Gig Reviews

This afternoon the soon-to-be officially christened Go Between Bridge is supporting a traffic jam of a different kind as punters press bumper-to-bumper on the north-side descent toward the freshly erected and currently dormant stage.

As far as locations go, this one’s got potential (albeit potential that will quite possibly never get another chance to shine). From the highest point of the arching bridge the slope towards the stage is surprisingly steep. Had the organisers buoyed the stage just another few inches, even the shortest guests would have had a clear view.

Freshly returned from an Asian jaunt, Brisbane foursome Yves Klein Blue liven the atmosphere. Frontman Michael Tomlinson looks to have somewhat abandoned his usual scenester attire for a more relaxed, garage-rock look, mind you his T-shirt is still tucked into his jeans. Make Up Your Mind is an early highlight. The band’s commercial cash cow Polka really gets the front section joyously bouncing. “You guys are way better than the Chinese” Tomlinson offers strangely, then adds, “Well, maybe not at commerce. But definitely at dancing.” The short but energetically sweet set is closed with the undeniable cool of Getting Wise and a casual ‘thanks and good bye’.

With far too long a wait behind us, Sydney born singer/songwriter extraordinaire Josh Pyke strikes a lonely pose. Pyke has an incredible gift for prose and while technically his songs can’t be faulted, with no backing band, tonight his delivery leaves more than a slight feeling of wanting. Lines On Palms, Memories and Dust and Forever Song tell stories with incredibly earnest clarity but seem to blend and become a bit same/same. Inviting fellow Basement Birds fraction Bob Evans to the stage, the output is lifted by exactly one acoustic guitar and one set of vocal cords, but the quality improvement is questionable. The Summer offers some much needed light to a set so far made up predominantly of shade and Make You Happy is the closer the set needed.

Looking oh so distinguished, the evening’s guest of honour takes the stage with his now immortalised band The Go Betweens. The set opens with a cobweb covered version of the bands most famous song, the 1988 hit Streets Of Your Town. Maybe it’s the sound, maybe it’s the talent, but The Go Betweens have certainly sounded better. As a songwriter Robert Foster is incredible, each tells a beautiful story about un-amazing things and paints colourful pictures about otherwise bland scenes. As the set unfolds, Foster’s vocals settle into a stride and I can’t help but want to hear the set opener again. Foster’s confidence also grows with each track and eventually his tongue in cheek banter and ‘dad moves’ endear him to all. Joking that people will travel from all corners of the world to visit his bridge, he does appear truly honoured and humbled by the whole event. With a few candid and sincere words he leaves the stage.

By now it’s become expected, though no less annoying, that the break between performances will be at least as long the set that introduced it. However, even this is taken to new extremes when waiting for the evening’s headliners. When the goody-two-shoes siblings eventually do take the stage, it’s to an ovation of pure froth. From the outset it’s clear that this is going to be a low-key affair. Angus and Julia Stone have talent and likeability in spades – volume and stage presence, not so much. Restricting herself to a humble six different instruments tonight – including acoustic and electric guitar, bass, trumpet, harmonica and keyboard – sister Stone is this performance’s centrepiece. Never shy to put their spin on a cover, this time it’s Grease’s You’re The One That I Want. Unfortunately it isn’t one of their better adaptations, coming across more like eulogy for Danny Zuko than a headline set feature.

Proving they can indeed pull off a good reworking though, the high point of the show comes in the form of a song the duo borrowed from the musical Calamity Jane – Private Lawns from the 2009 release of their debut A Book Like This. A tune borrowed from Angus’ solo project Lady Of The Sunshine is the pair’s latest single and radio spinner Big Jet Plane and when played it’s clearly adored. Just A Boy inevitably goes down a treat too. The unfortunate lack of volume is undeniable, annoying even. It only takes a murmur or giggle from a few people over to drown the Stones out completely. A colourful explosion of fireworks signify the end of dreamtime. Their dutiful crowd make an about-face and sleep walk and talk over the Go Between Bridge and into the Brisbane night.

Check out the photos form the gig