Sebadoh, Smudge @ The Hifi,Brisbane (22/09/11)

Tue 27th Sep, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Sebadoh are finally back on our shores for the first time in years in support of the reissues of two of their biggest albums, Bakesale and Harmacy. Attendees donned plenty of merch for these albums in what can only be described as the nineties alternative rock equivalent of Comicon.

Appearing at a free instore at Tym Guitars prior to the show, Sebadoh frontman Lou Barlow took to the guitar shop with his acoustic guitar and played a set of his own solo material, rarities and B-sides from Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr. The gracious frontman has everyone within the shop charmed as he takes requests and banters throughout. Delving into songs he hasn’t played in years, he occasionally forgets his lyrics as he gently strums his guitar. Playing well over his scheduled time slot, no one is upset as the race from Tyms to The Hifi begins.

With most arriving just in time, Australian icons Smudge have crawled out of a hiatus and taken up support duties for Sebadoh for their entire tour. The fruit doesn’t fall too far from the tree when making comparisons between Smudge and tonight’s headliner, with frontman Tom Morgan as reclusive as J Mascis or Lou Barlow. Title track off their ‘98 album Real McCoy, Wrong Sinatra comes off as an early highlight despite struggling to make it past the minute mark. Morgan seems as though he doesn’t want to be on stage, but the band are tight and their sound is clean and crisp even when the fuzz take over. With their own re-issue project in the works, here’s hoping for a headline Smudge tour soon.

The sounds of Barlow’s guitar through the curtain sets anticipation through the roof. As the curtain is drawn a widespread cheer is let up as Barlow takes to the microphone for semi tender Skull and follows it up with Harmacy’s On Fire. While Lou’s more tender role as the vocalist seeming as a nearly odd choice for an opener, Rebound picks up the pace as the crowd lap up every chord and long awaited moment.

Barlow shares frontman duties after the sludge pop of Magnets Coil and Jason Loewenstein swaps his bass in for guitar as he takes to the microphone. Some playful cynicism from Loewenstein about professionalism is directed at Barlow as he tunes his bass. Bakesale continues to be the flavour of the night as the short sharp riffage of album opener, License To Confuse sends the venue into a frenzy.

Loewenstein’s monotone voice is harsher than on record for Shit Soup and seems in a little lesser form than Barlow. The ever impressive Not Too Amused plays on loud and soft dynamics and is one of the more notable highlights of the night as Loewenstein enjoys thrashing through the strings on his guitar.

New to the group following the departure of Eric Gaffney, drummer Bob D’Amico
stays mostly in the background but skillfully swings between brutalising the drum kit to then giving it tender loving care throughout the night. With Barlow back at the microphone, he pulls off an impressive version of Harmacy’s Beauty Of The Ride the song’s lyrical content being bought into a more prominent light.

The band finish with Brand New Love off the bands ‘92 album, Smash Your Head on The Punk Rock unfortunately not returning for an encore due to time restrictions. With the audience lapping up everything that the band did, the night ended on a positive and happy note, the only sad news being that we may never see the amazing Sebadoh on our shores again.