Strange Talk @ The NorthcoteSocial Club, Melbourne(06/05/2011)

Wed 11th May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Strange Talk are going to be big, I have no doubt in my mind. Their first sold out gig at The Northcote Social Club just proves this point. They formed a very short while ago and have already made incredible progress. Picture the love child of Friendly Fires and Phoenix and you’ve got Strange Talk. After supporting bands such as The Rapture, Art vs. Science and Erol Alkan, they have finally achieved their own tour.

With support from Street Party DJs, Smoking Toddlers and the ubiquitous Loon Lake, they were always guaranteed a fairly large crowd. One could tell, however, that most were present for Strange Talk.An hour before they were due to perform, there were already disgruntled groupies despairing that they couldn’t get tickets and inside, girls were sitting at the foot of the stage ensuring that they didn’t lose their spot. The pressure inflicted from all of this could have easily served to perturb Strange Talk. Once they started though, it was clear this would not be the case.

As the curtain drew back, an audible gasp came from the crowd in anticipation. From the first note of We Can Pretend, they had already won over the whole crowd. Instantly, they launched into a full on, perfectly performed rendition with outstanding stage presence; exhibiting the poise and presence of a much more experienced band. These guys can perform. The lead singer, Stephen Docker, not only has outstanding vocal talent but also performs similarly to Birds Of Tokyo lead singer Ian Kenny; his slightly awkward movements somehow coming together in a synchronized mess of panache, holding the gift of grabbing attention and admiration. Guitarist Gillian Gregory, however, just about stole the spotlight. Not only is he an amazing player but he is also insanely animated and not at all self-conscious. Perhaps what was most impressive though was their ability to maintain this tone for the majority of the set.

By the time Is It Real? was run out, those present had clearly fallen in love. The four band members may appear to be four different ages from four different backgrounds but somehow, they mesh together incredibly cohesively.

The band did falter slighter during a cover of Gwen Stefani’s Keep on Dancing; the vocals not quite matching the quality displayed by the rest of the band. The need to pad out a headline with a cover is understandable and certainly nothing new. It did highlight, however, that they are a hell of a lot better playing their own stuff.

Following Sexual Lifestyle, they delivered Eskimo Boy; a song that would remain unsurpassed for the entirety of the night. The crowd erupted, with a guy in front of me, claiming he was ‘best friends with the bass player,’ so elated that he turned and hugged me in a fit of joy. Here was the point in the night where the audience takes off and beer starts escaping glasses and erupting all over the crowd. Sensational.

Strange Talk went off for a very short break to ‘freshen up,’ garnering some respect by not doing a faux encore moment. On return, Docker got the Social Club even more amped with a well deserved sing a long on crowd favourite Climbing Walls.

Strange Talk will really excel when they have a bigger stage, and I’m sure it won’t be long until we see them in that capacity. Put them at The Forum or The Palace and it’ll be a gig not to be missed.