Hungry Kids of Hungary @ TheGovernor Hindmarsh, Adelaide(29/04/11)

Mon 2nd May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Andy Bull. Wowstains. With his cute dimples and shirt buttoned up all the way, he looks the part; a true storyteller/nerd-a-tron. And when he opens his mouth, the sounds that emanate are entirely unexpected. His voice is hauntingly beautiful. He rocks keys, with Alex on guitar and Dave on drums. He (only half-jokingly) states he didn’t know an EP was half an album until he recorded his own… Recently performed on JJJ’s Like A Version, Andy offers his rendition of Tears For Fear’s Everybody Wants To Rule The World. It’s followed by Penny Drops, a fine little tune indeed. Later, Dog, usually performed with Lisa Mitchell, is a definite crowd-pleaser. In Lisa’s absence the track is stripped of some of its original charm and warmth, but to their credit, the band’s efforts are admirable. Overall, their set is tight, and gratifying.

Into red and blue hues step The Chemist. The crowd is teeming with teenage girls, who have formed rows nearest the stage. Their initial set up appears to be rife with technical difficulties; the result, a somewhat Libertines-esque sound. Having seen the band several times before, both opening for other acts and headlining their own shows, I can’t help but feel somewhat disillusioned with their selection of tunes for the four opening tracks. I begin to fear they’ve lost the audience already. Throughout their short set, here’s little crowd interaction or connection. During Things Have Changed, Hamish Rahn ’s bass lines are as thick as whipped cream; Elliot Smith’s percussion as solid as a slab of concrete. Atop the cymbal rests a tambourine – it jumps high in response to each of Elliot’s firm thuds. With my fingers splayed atop a speaker, this shakes me to my core. Heaven’s Got a Dress Code is perfectly executed, but it’s Lullaby #1 (Mercy) which undoubtedly steals the crowd. Ben Witt’s vocals makes the song, and it’s a tune which possesses a vibe I simply cannot pinpoint or put into words. James Ireland (keys, accordion) displays some serious talent. Before the boys bid goodnight, they offer newbie Dotted Line. It is somewhat generic sounding, but I suspect it will resonate with the majority of <18 year olds. I hope The Chemist have won the hearts of at least some patrons tonight, as it would be a great shame not to experience their two 2010 EPs, The Wolves’ Howls Shatter the Old Glass Moon and Lullabies.

During the long wait between bands, questionable patrons consume too many chardonnays. I find myself silently willing Hungry Kids Of Hungary on stage to drown out the sounds of squealing teenagers. They have toured with the likes of Philadelphia Grand Jury, Washington, Oh Mercy, Jamie T, OK Go and others. Hailing from Brisbane, they are JJJ Unearthed winners for 2008 and consist of Ben Dalton, Dean McGrath, Kane Mazlin, Ryan Strathie and Remy Boccalatte. High-pitched screaming ushers the boys on stage. Tracks are thrown down fast, with little pause between. I, for some reason, begin to feel like I’m at a Jimmy Eat World gig.

From 2010’s Escapades, they offer The Vacationer, which spurs the crowd into a fury of dance and lyrical recitation. It’s the closest patrons get to starting a mosh. Andy Bull and his band are invited back on stage for a rendition of Last Waltz. From Andy’s The Phantom Pains EP, this track explodes with a forceful blow of energy. The crowd lap it up. Later, with its stunning lyrical simplicity, Set It Right from 2008’s debut EP weaves me into a cocoon of warmth. Other highlights include Coming Around, Eat Your Heart Out, Let You Down and The Window Shopper from 2010’s Escapades. The crowd revels in the sweet sounds of Wristwatch, which has received much JJJ play of late. They also offer one of their newest tracks, which is somewhat reminiscent of Vampire Weekend.

The 2-song encore comes after approximately 40-50 seconds. In what I perceive to be an exceedingly bold move, they cover Smashing Pumpkins’ infamous 1979, stating it was one of their favourite tunes when they were 15. It’s not a bad rendition in its own right, but attempting to cover any Pumpkins tune will always be akin to setting out to climb a mammoth snowy mountain without an anchor and/or iceaxe. Of tonight, I am certain of one thing: this show has been for the hipsters, and the young, and somewhere along the way, I think I missed the sentiment. Closing remark: if you like a band, and “OMG, looooove this sooong!”, put your phone away! The screen of your iPhone indisputably detracts from the authenticity of any given show.