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Reel Big Fish vs. The Aquabats@ The Tivoli, Brisbane(02/12/2010)

Mon 6th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

It would appear that notepads are slowly going the way of the buffalo and meant a late entrance to the show tonight. However the support band, whose correct name alludes this reviewer and the internet it would seem were polishing off their set upon arrival. What the band did display was an inclusion of xylophone and the throwing around of maracas with the odd saxophone blast, with lyrics scattered throughout. Many people thoroughly enjoyed it but many left the Tivoli still unknowing of their identity.

It may be a result of being generation Y but the expectations of quiffs and pork pie hats tonight was high. While the Tivoli wasn’t overrun with either of these, one gentleman was complete with ‘radioactive rash guard’, a tribute to the mythos of the next band. The Aquabats entered complete with countdown projected onto the giant wall behind the stage and busting into Fashion Zombies with the fury that only the Aquabats can unleash. From here the five piece moved into Martian Girl, complete with WO! WO! WO! WO! pouring out the mouths of punters around the venue with the aid of the lyrics on the big screen. Nerd Alert! proved a hit with dancers in the room but it was the Bats who would do most of the dancing tonight. Crash McLarson provided bass and the odd vocal touch but it was Jimmy The Robot’s keyboards, saxophone and backing vocals that were most evident tonight.

The band continued on with Pizza Day complete with the crowd making a pizza together but let’s face it, pizza day is the best day of the week. The Aquabats quickly remove themselves from view and it would appear that the band have gone into pharmaceuticals in their downtime. An advertisement for their very own ‘Theraputic Rubber-Rama’ was played out on the screen. It comes complete with leeches, don’t worry though, you can probably pick it up online.

New song, In My Dreams, from forthcoming album Hi-Five Soup which according to The MC Bat Commander had finally been “green lit but the Government” made an appearance. Then it was onto closing the set with Pool Party, complete with inflatable beach balls and dolphins. In true superhero fashion, the Commander did a backflip off the drumkit to finish.

It was a high-energy, top quality set from the superheros but it was the hilarity of the whole thing that made it, for lack of a better word, awesome. The Bat Commander provided some genius wisecracks including the threat of telling Reel Big Fish to not play, “because you’re not dancers, you’re impatient bastards” along with “we’re not the best band in the world…anymore”. If there was anyone in that room that didn’t crack a smile during that set, I’d eat my pork pie hat.

Sell Out, an obvious crowd favourite opened the millionth Australian tour for Reel Big Fish and closed it apparently with Aaron Barrett shouting out “you’ve been awesome. Thank-you. Goodnight!” and the band exited stage right. It was funny in the first instance but lost it’s charm when the band continued it after Another F.U. Song and I Want Your Girlfriend To Be My Girlfriend Too. “Here’s a Reel Big Fish song, from a Reel Big Fish Album, by Reel Big Fish” introduced Ban The Tube Top to which the crowd clapped in time. Hand claps would be the flavour of the evening along with the expected skanking moves.

The six-piece powered through all the favourites, Kiss Me Deadly, Monkey Man, Everything Sucks, In The Pit and 2-4-1. It was a good thing that the Tivoli hadn’t sold out on this particular evening as with so many bodies, moving in the fashion that they were, the house probably would have buckled under the pressure and caved in around the crowd. One gentleman on the balcony had several close calls, almost dancing his way over the barrier during most songs.

One notable absentee was long time bass player, Matt Wong, however his replacement, Derek Gibbs, did the job with just as much gusto as Wong once did. Scott Klopfenstein was, as per usual, in fine form on both the trumpet and guitar, throwing misplaced humour around all night. Double trumpets meant dancing, and sweating, and dancing, and sweating.

Their hit, Beer, closed the set proper and proved the highlight of the night with most peoples beer being flung out of their plastic cups with disregard. The band hadn’t even left the stage before the encore chant started. The full version of Suburban Rhythm, complete with punk, blues, disco, country, garage rock, rap, death metal and emo breakdowns made an appearance before their rendition of Take On Me finally closed the evening.

This reviewer in particular has become disenchanted with the Fish over the course of their career, entering the show with a somewhat jaded view of the band. Tonight, they proved again why exactly they are such a third-wave ska staple. They never fail to deliver and that’s why they’ll always pull a crowd despite their seriously poor attempts at comedic banter.

At not one point did The Aquabats or Reel Big Fish actually battle each other but if winners had to be decided the prize for hilarious entertainment would go to the Bats and the prize for live music would go to the Fish. It’s been settled.

SET LIST
Sell Out
Another F.U.Song
I Want Your Girlfriend To Be My Girlfriend Too
Kiss Me Deadly
Ban The Tube Top
Monkey Man
Everything Sucks
The Bad Guy
New Version Of You
In The Pit
2-4-1
Snoop Dog Baby
Brown Eyed Girl [Van Morrison Cover]
Good Thing
Your Guts (I Hate ‘em)
She Has A Girlfriend Now
You Don’t Know
The Set Up (You Need This)
Beer