Dan Kelly, The Twerps, Rat vsPossum @ Corner Hotel,Melbourne (13/08/2010)

Sat 14th Aug, 2010 in Gig Reviews

With locals Boarders slotted in to an early Friday night set, Dan Kelly’s album launch ‘party’ started for most with Rat vs Possum. The Melbourne five-piece played an interesting mix of tracks from their debut release, Daughter of Sunshine, new songs and also- if my ears didn’t betray me- a cover. They powered through Pills, Binti Jua and Animals, the latter of which drew the best response from the sizable crowd.

The Twerps were up next, on the much smaller side stage. Some of the now full bandroom might have missed the point of their faux-innocent pop, but their set was tight and enjoyable. Formed by singer/guitarist Martin Frawley and bassist Rick Milovanovic only two years ago, they fit into a slew of local artists who slide between genres including garage, rock and lo-fi pop.

Joined by Julia McFarlane (guitar) and Pat O’Neill (drums), the quartet make very simple music in the vein of Dick Diver and Eddy Current Suppression Ring, with a less of a pub-rock leaning. They seem more suited to a summer afternoon than a Friday night in the middle of winter, but they played to a full room and Frawley’s lyrics still came across as refreshingly honest and effortless, ensuring the band isn’t just another rock band with a slightly-bogan accent.

The curtains soon opened over at the main stage, revealing a stage lined with vines, projections on the back wall and Dan Kelly’s band in random costumes. They comprised of Dave Williams and Kiernan Box from Augie March and Indra Adams and Dale Packard of Ground Components, dressed in a typically comic style, with a Mexican, aviator and safari adventurer all gracing the stage.

Kelly opened with the first two songs from his new album, Dan Kelly’s Dream, The Decommissioner and Hold On, I’m Coming On. Between the two, he introduced ‘Mount Eliza’s finest’ in the form of two teenage girls on backing vocals.

This set the tone for the night, which was a decidedly local affair- something Kelly recognised himself. Not only were all the support acts from Melbourne, but Kelly’s songs also have a strong local influence. This was visible through very Melbourne references to Hare Krishnas and dodgy train stations.

Kelly’s explanatory introductions of his songs were often hilarious and rang bells of Warren Ellis, but there’s something unique about this Kelly. He mixes some of his uncle Paul’s vocal stylings with some stranger sounds and, unquestionably, much stranger lyrics.

Songs off his latest album were mixed with older favourites such as Babysitters Of The World Unite, Fire & Theft (The Landscape Gardener’s Dream) and one of the set highlights, Drunk On Election Night, which garnered a huge singalong. During this, Kelly had a quick dig at the federal opposition leader and religious organisations as the crowd provided the chorus vocals of ‘cocksucker, motherfucker’.

Triple J’s spamming of Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam meant that it was also a highlight, as Kelly explained it to be ‘the silliest song he’s ever written’ and that he was extremely bored when he wrote it. Other Dan Kelly’s Dream songs such as Stretching Out and A Classical DJ At Dandenong Station were also played, with Kelly joking that punters from Dandenong would stab him after the song. The joke before the song epitomised Kelly’s oft-sarcastic humour; the song itself exemplifying Kelly’s imagination and storytelling ability.

With the help of locals Rat vs Possum and The Twerps, Dan Kelly filled out the Corner to launch his latest effort. His ability to mix the best of his back catalogue with his new material made the night a celebration of Kelly as a performer and confirmed that he is one of the most creative songwriters Australia will see in a long time.