SixFtHick, Eat Laser Scumbag,The Mean Streaks, Vegas Kings@ The Zoo, Brisbane (08/04/06)

Tue 11th Apr, 2006 in Gig Reviews

I should have taken my umbrella to deflect the flying Hicks as Ben and Geoff Corbett did their best Mary Poppins impersonations, hurling themselves into the air without apparent means of support.

But I digress. The event was the launch of SixFtHick’s new album, “Canetrash”, in addition to celebrating 10 years together as one of Brisbane’s best live acts and ‘most promising newcomer’. I say this jokingly, because SixFtHick has been one of the highlights of the Australian music scene for these 10 years and if they launch into the stratosphere of world domination this year, no band deserves it more.

The Zoo is one of those venues that just has the right ambience for a night like this. Too bad about that double exit stairway though, as the wilder the night got, I started worrying whether or not their public liability insurance was substantial enough to cover damages if someone were to fly straight down the steps off stage.

With some excellent support on the night from Eat Laser Scumbag, The Mean Streaks, and the fabulous Vegas Kings, the crowd was primed when SixFtHick took the stage, which was adorned with cane to bring back that down-home feeling. The crowd could sense the band was primed for the night and the boys pounded and pounded us until we could take no more. Ben began flaying himself with a fetishist whip, after punching himself in the side of the head and menacingly pacing back and forth across the stage with barely contained energy. What a perfect opening for the song “Beat Myself”, which the band shook out of themselves and into the crowd. Energy transference.

“Post Powder Blues” had everyone in the crowd dancing, mesmerised. As I looked around not one eye was on anyone but the band. They bring new meaning to the word ‘showmanship’; the level of energy they maintain for the duration of the gig is immense. They are the Energiser bunnies of the Australian music scene! The set list was so fine, a perfect combination of new tracks from “Canetrash”, as well as old favourites.

The end of the evening saw the band invite a go-go-dancer, friends and, what the hell, the rest of the audience, on to the stage for a festive orgy of celebration. Mayhem ensued, but what else would you expect from a SixFtHick gig? I mean, really. This was a party like no other, a love-in of immense proportions.

Normally, when I write a review, I go through a blow-by-blow account of each song played. But this night was just so perfect I don’t want to destroy it through intense deconstruction. The mood at this gig was one of pride and passion; you could sense the crowd claimed SixFtHick as their own and their pride in the accomplishments of the band was evident. From the girls sighing over the band to the guys carrying the Corbett brothers over their heads, the night was one huge embrace of SixFtHick. I hope they felt the love, because they deserve it.