Mark Lanegan @ Fly By NightMusician's Club, Perth(11/07/10)

Wed 14th Jul, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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A Sunday night in Freo brings on rain and wind which has swept the legend pioneer of grunge, Mark Lanegan to the Fly By for his last show of his Australia and New Zealand tour.

The tickets say 7pm but the doors don’t open till long after as a crowd more on the older side washes in for beers and warmth and the anticipation of a stand out performance.

Opening for the legend himself is Melbourne’s singing sweetheart, Amaya Laucirica. She’s the girl in red with her dress matching the electric guitar swung across her tiny self and the background lights shining the same seduction colour. But as Laucirica’s mouth opens her voice oozes innocence and a simple soft beauty.

Sun on My Face grabs the crowd’s attention; it’s mellow and bluesy and even as she projects her voice during the chorus, it keeps the same subdued mid-tempo. Marry Me brings a switch to acoustic and portrays a mix of vulnerability and neediness. Sugar Lights, the track with the same name as her debut album, introduces an alternative folk sound as her airy voice hits higher notes. No one seems to know her music but everyone is listening attentively and the occasional foot tap can be seen through the crowd.

As she closes her set, Amaya Laucirica thanks the crowd and ensures Mark Lanegan will be incredible.

There’s no introduction as Lanegan lunges into When Your Number Isn’t Up. His voice sends shivers down your spine with its deep strength and grungey undertones. The crowd erupts from their submissive state that has encompassed the night, into gratification and pleasure.

One Way Street shares a spoken song that stimulates your hearing in an epic musical journey. He barely moves around the stage but his songs soar through every individual in the room. The crowd is mesmerized with Shiloh Town and even the toughest in leather jackets and unmaintained beards stare motionless with smiles on their faces at a true musical legend.

There’s a break from the songs and Lanegan finally speaks to the crowd. He’s known for just getting up there and singing then leaving and tonight wasn’t too different. Rosser gets an introduction, then it’s back to doing what he does best; claps and yells are heard in the introduction of the non-generic love song, Like Little Willie John.

Every song deserves a mention but there isn’t enough room, nor near enough words to describe the effect of the gravelly mature baritone at this intimate live show.

Mark Lanagen leads the crowd through varying emotions on the rollercoaster ride of his life. His songs don’t seem to just be lyrics strung together, but life experiences; letting us into a part of his world. This is real and true and no nu-wave music can compare.

Message to Mine brought the crowd out of their obsessed zombie state to actually sing along. It was catchy, created a lively atmosphere, contained backup vocals from Rosser and so far was the highlight of the show.

Lanegan thanks Amaya and says how great the tour has been, but there’s only a few more songs left when One Hundred Days gets the crowd swaying along and long-held notes couldn’t stay all night from On Jesus’ Program.

As he leaves the stage there is no doubt an encore will follow, there are insistent whistles and cheers from the crowd until he returns. Not one or two extras are played, but five as the most notable of all songs from the night ends the show.

It’s a Queens of the Stone Age song, The Hanging Tree. The guitar is impressive and Lanegan’s solo version of the song is unbelievable with his harmonious vocals. An over-stimulated crowd has lungs jumping through their throats in enjoyment and with a simple “you guys have been fantastic, thanks, bye” Lanigan ends the night.

Check out CarbieWarbie’s gallery from Melbourne