The Fauves, I, A Man@Northcote Social Club,Melbourne (11/11/2011)

Sun 13th Nov, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Supports I A, Man open with the lead guitarist’s repeated twangs sounding slightly out of place amongst the rest of the band’s gentle wash. The audience stands back in an awkward arc around but away from the stage, giving off the occasional polite belt of applause. Some nice melodies and rockier moments are offset with fuzz and the singer’s Shins-like vocals, while lyrics recall the gentle suburban reflections of The Go Betweens. The band don’t really sound explicitly like anyone else, and while normally this would be a good thing, it leaves them somewhat indistinct. They verge between moments of brilliance and blandness within the frame of a single song. As a unit I A, Man have potential but they need to decide what direction they want to take and stick with it.

The Social Club fills close to capacity before The Fauves take the stage and as soon as they start, any inhibitions about the well-travelled Melburnians instantly melt away. Opening with Don’t Say When, off new album Japanese Engines, the band’s ability to craft instantly recognisable tracks each with a distinctive hook or refrain is the first thing that becomes evident. Next is the band’s laconic, cynical sense of humour put on display in both their lyrics and onstage banter. Here we see a switch between Coxy’s distinctively Australian 90’s vocals (that hold an obvious place somewhere between Tim Rogers and Dave Mcormack) to the more straightforward tones of Doctor. Coxy is quick to throw a gentle jab in his direction too, with his comment that, “we’re going to play one of Doctor’s songs now, which are generally marginally inferior to mine.”

Highlights include the counter intuitive catch call of, “it’s good to see you’re smoking again,” in Smoking Again, the catchy Good Times Coming and Underwhelmed, which the band label as their failed attempt at falsetto. You’re My Type sees a return to newer material, which Coxy labels as a blatant exercise in attempting to shift units. I Am Not Approachable, an ongoing joke about deceased and alter ego bass players, and the hilarious Metrosexual, which presents a sardonic examination of the sensitive new age guy, also both impress.

The rock tinged Going For My Blue Belt is almost as entertaining as Coxy’s bewildering statement that his guitar, apparently worth a lot but constantly disappointing, would be available for a brief period after the band leave the stage to be stolen. Medium Pacer is Doctor’s best song, with its catchy bass riff and chorus of,“I spend the day wondering what I’m gonna be doing next,” before the band close with dance tinged Nairobi Nights.