Hard-Fi & Vanlustbader @ TheArena 30/9/06

Tue 3rd Oct, 2006 in Gig Reviews

Vanlustbader were the first punch in the one-two – although the local boys probably didn’t get to play to as big a crowd as they’d like, fashionable lateness being what it is. Triple J spun Communique got a pretty good reaction to the crowd, as is to be expected from the rocking local lads.

This tour is probably scheduled a couple of months too early for Hard-Fi, or the tour wasn’t promoted heavily enough, because even as the appearance of the band drew closer, the crowd was still filtering in. The silver lining for Hard-Fi is what the crowd lacked in size it made up for with enthusiasm. Everyone that turned up was keen to see exactly what this band had to offer, and appeared to have a good handle on their tracks.

They’re a charismatic band, with singer Richard and bass player Kai chatting happily with the crowd as they got the show underway. They gave a bit of back story about coming from Staines, but it seems everyone at the gig had a pretty good idea of their history. Gotta Reason has got enough of The Hives style of dance rock in it to whip the crowd up and Suburban Knights sounded terrific – really bassy and groovy. Reading about Hard-Fi you hear lots of mentions of the reggae influences in the music, and how they’ve created a new genre (diska), but I didn’t fully appreciate it until the gig. The basslines sounded really dubby, which works really well with their bluesy kinda lyrics (poor, crappy lives etc) but dance hall sort of feel. It’s like two step rock or something – especially stompers like Cash Machine.

Halfway through the gig Richard said he didn’t think anyone would come out, but by that time the crowd was pretty solid and were loving the show. He has a really great attitude – the crowd chat doesn’t seem naff or forced and he engages everyone well.

They’re testing out a few tracks from their upcoming album, mixed in with the tracks from Stars of CCTV, and Trouble and Better Do Better make the next album look pretty bright while showing their old tracks still hold it.

The finish was really strong, Cash Machine got the crowd shouting as soon as the melodica came out. But the biggest reaction was saved for the finale Hard to Beat, probably as it’s most likely the audience’s first taste of Hard-Fi (it was mine).

Encore’s these days are quite often a foregone conclusion and can just take a bit of momentum away from the show, cause everyone knows the band’s coming back – but these guys need some praise for giving a really great encore.

Richard came back on solo for a supremely intimate track, before the rest of the band came back on and finished off with two more. Outstanding work, really finished it off well. Keep an eye out for the second album, it should be interesting at the very least.