The Drones, Ron Peno & TheSuperstitions @ The CornerHotel, Melbourne (12/10/2011)

Fri 14th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Where are them Drones now? Alive and living? Some time since we heard the sound of new things coming from there. With movement elsewhere though: Gareth Liddiard has been with a solo project equal to the worth of anything he’s ever written. There’s something alive in him, that moves into songs. Whether they’ve reached their fame or not, this life makes The Drones the best we’ve got. Though it was on the release of a new live DVD, instead it felt like we were celebrating the life of one of the greatest Australian live bands.

Caterwauling in first were Ron S. Peno and the Superstitions, from the older guard of Australian rock music – their eponymous lead singer once fronting classic band Died Pretty. His showmanship swept away the years; 56 apparently, and singing with a visceral determination to make use of every ounce of life stored up in that time. PS Blues was a barnstorming highlight.

There is a crazy life inside some of the best songwriters. Ron Peno channelled some of it, and what else to expect from what was to come next, that most possessed-sounding voice, stricken guitar, G. Liddiard, the Drones.

The set was a slow burn to begin with, The Best You Can Believe In, Locust, then The Drifting Housewife. While each of these bristle with the personality of their best music, there seemed some feeling missing to really draw the crowd in. Soon after though came the incredible chaotic stomp of Minotaur, and with that every doubt was fled. It doesn’t take much to see the vital, powering life in that song, and each of the band members were embodying that force.

“ Dan Luscombe, guitar] drinks too much, Mikey Noga, drums] snorts too much, Fiona Kitschin, bass] eats too much…”
Noga [puts on bogan accent]: “And you fuckin’ talk too much!”
“You may be right, Mike, you may be right”

Another of their greatest was next – Jezebel- sprawling and intense. Tempered again by slower smoulder came Cold & Sober, Luck in Odd Numbers, and their dark-wheeling rendition of Kev Carmody’s River of Tears. That song they could almost claim as their own, the dark energy all theirs when they inhabit it.

“Thanks for coming on a Wednesday night, I fucking wouldn’t.”

Sixteen Straws is the inimitable encore, Liddiard on acoustic with drummer Noga contributing sterling harmonica. There was a group of four men hugging & singing along to every word, which is a special thing (particularly for a 10 minute song!).

“Happy anniversary Corner Hotel, you can’t spare fifty bucks for a new fucking mic stand”

With charismatic and dark humour, it’s a winning frontman they’ve got, and most people in the crowd love him as much as those four men. What is important though, in the way that he holds and wields his guitar, in the way his body moves, and most of all in the way he sings, Liddiard embodies his music. It’s a wonderful and powerful thing to watch. That life takes him over, and with any luck, so it will continue for years to come. Long live ‘em!