Triple J Unearthed Launch:Strange Talk, Big Scary @ TheCorner Hotel, Melbourne(05/10/2011)

Sun 9th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The Corner Hotel helped celebrate the official debut of Triple J’s new digital radio station. Triple J Unearthed, as per the trend of the station’s pre-existing online hub, will be dedicated entirely to Australian-made music, including unsigned and independent bands, twenty four hours a day. Assisting the evening’s party vibe were Loon Lake, Big Scary and Strange Talk.

Would-be patrons amassed early for the free event, each member of an astonishingly long queue clamouring for a piece of the action. Once a formidable crowd had formed inside the Corner, Loon Lake were introduced to the stage, their arrival met with a strangely amorous response. To any objective observer, the wealth of affection for the indie-rock outfit only worked to defy the spirit of the new station. One feels it might have been more fitting to have gifted the platform to a relatively unknown band or artist to aid their standing within the industry, as per the new station’s brief. Truthfully, there would have been no better gesture via which Triple J could declare their station’s mission statement. Disappointingly, however, they squandered the opportunity, instead pushing three bands that appeared more than familiar to the entire venue.

This extended even as far as the evening’s DJ sets, with radio personality Tom Ballard and Stonefield found at the decks between bands. Each set offered a meek selection of Triple J favourites, with the likes of Gotye and The Grates ensuring two safe, uninspired intervals. It felt futile to have to endure once again the songs Triple J already push ad nauseum, especially on the one occasion that ought to have offered a point of difference. Would it not have been a brighter idea to have played independent, undiscovered music instead? Would that not have been more in line with the concept of Unearthed? The idea of tailor-made DJ sets with more of an inclination towards the station’s indie brief seemed, once again, perfectly reasonable. Triple J would opt for something a little different however, celebrating new, unsigned talent by playing the songs of the artists everyone knows and loves.

General cynicism aside, the bands at least provided a solid evening of live music. Only Loon Lake would possess the unenviable distinction of being just ‘okay’. They spruiked a pretty timid, phoned-in pop rock affair, as if to recall a sunnier, more frivolous British India. Fortunately, their actual performance picked up most of the slack, with energy aplenty on offer throughout their high octane set. They tend to owe a lot to their near-flawless cohesion, the execution of their craft at least tight despite their set proving a little unexciting. Following the band’s departure from the stage, a couple of MCs returned to strut their stuff. “How did you all like Loon Lake?” they asked, a lukewarm response doing much to sum up the state of affairs.

Big Scary were considerably more impressive, staking their claim as one of the most reliable local bands on the live circuit. The dynamic duo of Tom Iansek and Jo Syme maintained a gritty rock aesthetic left by Loon Lake; a jaunty frenzy erupting within their White Stripes configuration. The heavy, hardened Gladiator stuck to a familiar stop-start trend before ascending to new heights. Having previewed material from their debut album Vacation, it’s obvious that some things don’t quite translate from studio recording to a live space too well – namely the more subtle, tender moments. Naturally, the addition of piano showcased another dimension to the duo, offering a welcome departure from the set’s raucous disposition. Eventually, Tuesday Is Rent Day returned proceedings to a familiar guitar-snarling, cymbal-crashing chaos, the funky Purple soon following. Mixtape – one of the highlights of the set – might just be the best thing Big Scary have accomplished to date and combined with Autumn, Big Scary secured an enjoyable finale to their set.

By the time Strange Talk had taken to the stage, the crowd had thinned out considerably. Those who remained, however, were treated to a stellar set. Is It Real? ignited a scintillating electro-pop approach, ushering in also the most intricate and accessible of the evening’s three performances. The band’s output consistently featured keyed effects colliding to create a fierce electronic cacophony, each song executed with a tireless energy and precision. Despite their claim to an enjoyable EP, it appeared obvious that Strange Talk are actually that much more fun live when compared to the flare of the studio recordings. This is partly attributed to the opportunity to hear their new material, a large portion of it among the band’s best contributions to the launch. Of course, stalwart single Eskimo Boy and the finale of Climbing Walls would prove among the best and most popular of the band’s songs, ensuring a satisfying end to a curious evening.

Overall, the launch offered a mixed bag. Unfortunately, despite a solid show of live music from all three bands, any due scepticism concerning the spirit of the event tended to prevail. Triple J, despite every intention of their Unearthed initiative, showed only a flimsy level of support for local and independent artists throughout this launch. Meanwhile, one has to wonder just how much support the hundreds of patrons at the launch would normally throw behind local music? How many, for instance, would normally be so willing to frequent an obscure live venue to see some small-time act – on a Wednesday evening with a door charge, no less? Leave it to Triple J to make it cool to care about things most people normally wouldn’t. A series of moments that took place between sets summed up the whole situation perfectly, the crowd summoned for a call-and-response exercise.

“Triple J Unearthed!”
“Triple J Unearthed!”
“Independent Australian music makes me happy!”
“Independent Australian music makes me happy!”

Frankly, it’s a little too Life-Of-Brian for this writer to stomach. Though it’s likely Triple J’s Unearthed station will prove a win for local and independent artists in the long-run, everything this night had to offer suggested otherwise.