Future Of The Left @ AnnandaleHotel, Sydney (5/1/2011)

Mon 10th Jan, 2011 in Gig Reviews

“Your drummer’s the sickest c*nt ever!”

“Is that a catalogue of illnesses? I don’t know what you’re saying. I don’t speak American 14 year-old boy”

You can call Future of the Left a lot of things, but subtle isn’t one of them. Sure, there’s nuance – frontman Andy Falkous is a master of cleverly cynical wordplay and there’s an abundance of melody buried in their rather massive sound. But that sound nonetheless hits you like a punch in the face, and Falkousis a hilarious, vitriolic frontman. Especially if you’re a heckler. Falkous’ banter was in fine form throughout the evening, absolutely destroying the few hecklers scattered through the front section. It was endlessly entertaining.

They’re well-supported by Further, a Sydney group that have been around for over a decade now playing raucous rock sets that take cues from indie and hardcore – think a less intense Fucked Up. And their experience shows, with a great set that’s varied, loud and focused. They certainly make a strong case for being one of Sydney’s better, though somewhat overlooked bands.

Future of the Left are touring with a new lineup, a four-piece for the first time. Ex- Mclusky members Andy “Falco” Falkous and Jack Egglestone are still there, but they’ve lost original bassist Kelson Mathias for Julia Ruzicka. They’ve also gained Jimmy Watkins on guitar, with the extra layer making them even louder and more menacing than before. Apart from on new material Jimmy’s extra guitars are largely secondary to Falkous’, but they complement the songs well. And Julia’s a killer bassist. No teething problems with the new lineup, then.

Kicking off with Arming Eritrea, they sent punters into a frenzy that was only heightened a few songs in with a storming Small Bones, Small Bodies. A synth came out soon after for fan fave Manchasm, but perhaps the biggest hit of the night came as the synth was packed away – Mclusky’s To Hell With Good Intentions. And that was just one of four Mclusky tracks that got an airing – Without MSG I Am Nothing came soon after, while Fuck This Band and Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues opened the encore.

After a loud, sweaty hour-and-a-bit they wrap things up with an extended, jammed out Lapsed Catholics, wreaking havoc on the stage. With a dismantled drum kit and guitars left to engulf the stage in feedback, the show is clearly over, leaving behind a packed room of sweaty, overjoyed and thoroughly amused punters.