The Dandy Warhols @ HQ,Adelaide (26/05/11)

Sun 29th May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The Dandy Warhols live on existential plane that has seen the group welcomed to our shores for well over a decade, and on tonight’s performance, we are already looking forward to the next visit.

The fact that their songs can be heard in car commercials and that they spring up in such places as Parklife last year to confuse the fluro-clad and still keep their reputation intact speaks volumes for the carefree foundation on which they are built. They are a unique kind of cool – possibly the coolest.

Brisvegas outfit, Los Huevos, opened proceedings as the support act, and although I annoyingly missed their set, the massive props given to them by Courtney Taylor-Taylor at the end of the night means they will be well worth following up.

The combination of the layout of HQ and the Dandy’s persona at this show lead to it feeling more like a gathering rather than being performed at. With the slant on tonight’s gig being a showcase of some new tracks, and with a duration of over 2 hours and 20 plus career-spanning songs, the close to capacity crowd were given an absolute treat by a group that is ageing wonderfully.

There was both a literal and figurative haze that set over the venue as The Dandy Warhols took to stage and slinked into Mohammed, but their shows are the epitome of eclectic, with the chirpy Solid up next followed by the ever so chilled (Tony This Song Is Called) Lou Weed and from there on in a pattern emerged.

The setlist covered all bases, from Dandys Rule OK to songs from the yet to be released album, This Machine, some of which were performed live for the first time. It is often hard to gauge tracks the first time you hear them, but there was plenty to suggest the album will be well worth paying attention to.

Keeping it fresh, many versions of their singles were played either more stripped back (especially C T-T’s solo version of Every Day Should Be A Holiday) or much ‘rockier’ versions, but never sloppily. By now they would be well within their rights to ditch Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth or Bohemian Like You if they saw fit, but The Dandy Warhols circa 2011 are not that precious and they seemed happy to knock out quality versions for the very diverse crowd that were on hand.

Other highlights of the night included the hauntingly stunning I Love You, a well improvised version of Godless and set closer, the iconic Boys Better.

Anyone who has seen the doco Dig would have to agree the Dandys have come out so far in front, even on a creativity level – want a piece of pop? Sure thing, but it is weaved in amongst noise soundscapes that would even make Lee Ranaldo’s ears prick up.

Courtney Taylor-Taylor was particularly more chatty than we are used to, seemingly more lucid and when he proclaimed at the end of the show that it was the most fun he had had playing in a while, those there would have to believe it.

Pete Holmström seems less into himself these days (how’s that for a back-handed compliment!), which was more enjoyable for all concerned as he gave his best Keith Richards and Pete Townshend impersonations.

Brent De Boer’s ‘less is more’ drumming keeps the unit ticking over nicely and Zia McCabe is a gorgeous as ever – especially when she came back on stage at the end of the show, with beer and pizza in hand, to let everyone know that they do not do encores, but in lieu would sing a cute little number about a daisy on her toe to finish off proceedings.

Tonight was assurance that balance does exist and that sometimes you can just stop trying so hard and simply enjoy good music.