Glenn Richards and DanLuscombe, Mike Noga @ BendedElbow, Geelong (23/09/2011)

Sun 25th Sep, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Sometimes, in a quiet band room with only a handful of people in it, in an out of the way town that bands often forget about, a musician gets the chance to play music as if he’s sitting at home in his lounge room. Glenn Richards did just that when he and mates Dan Luscombe and Mike Noga played at the Bended Elbow in Geelong as part of Richard’s Glimjack tour.

Support Noga (drummer for The Drones) took advantage of the small crowd by talking intimately about his hangover (‘’the size of a truck”) and offering insight into what happened when Richards slept over on his couch the night before. Noga, at ease, if a little scratchy, played songs off his solo album The Balladeer Hunter. To his advantage, songs such as I Will Have Nothing and Eileen lend themselves well to a voice husky from late nights and too much whisky. A man with a harmonica and skinny black jeans is always a beautiful thing, no matter how hung over the man claims to be, and Noga wore the look well.

Taking the stage and chatting with individual members of the crowd, Richards proves he is still the guy you want to have over to your place for red wine and a game of chess. In the ten years since Augie March released their debut album Sunset Studies, not much appears to have changed about Richards. He still dresses like a history professor and tames his hair by tucking it behind his ears. Richards’ new songs are reminiscent of his old work; long, wandering songs, full of lyrics that you wish you’d thought of yourself. Such a successful formula for beautiful songs means the show is only full of good stuff.

Battling sound problems with humour and explaining that Qantas had cracked his guitar, Richards and Luscombe played Glimjack standouts Apple of My Eye, Painted By Numbers and Glimjack Muttering. Despite being the main attraction, Richards sat to the left of stage, letting the tall and imposing Luscombe strike it out in the center.

The two spoke little to each other between songs, preferring to get on with things, working their way beautifully through Augie March splendours such as Cold Acre, Here Comes The Night and One Crowded Hour. They were joined on stage by Noga for a cracking version of This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers; the three of them showing what their voices can really do.

Richards could have let the fact that it was the end of the tour, and the obvious lack of people in the room affect this gig, but instead he dropped his guard and performed with warmth and intimacy. He sang simply and honestly, turning it into one of those special shows that those present will hold dear for many years.