Magic Dirt, Gersey, and TheThaw @ The Annandale Hotel(28/10/06)

Mon 30th Oct, 2006 in Gig Reviews

It was with great trepidation that I travelled to the Annandale to see Magic Dirt. The last few years haven’t been all that kind, with Snow White not having set the world on fire. Since then, the band has moved onto recording for their own independent label Emergency Music and released a self-titled EP. The mainstream music press in the last few months have done little to highlight their latest tour or activities. Arriving a little after 8.30pm, I was however pleasantly surprised by the crowds streaming into the venue. Second night in on a mini East Coast tour, the Annandale, is a venue the Dirt has become accustomed to playing over the years. The vibes for a good show was in the air.

The Magic Dirt has a long reputation of supporting local acts on tour. Tonight was no exception. Local trio The Thaw were given first bite of the cherry with a set of feedback drenched post-art aural landscapes. This unit unleashed for the most part brutal instrumentals interspersed with ethereal banshee wails. Although an acquired taste and not always sounding sweet to the ears, the passion and intent of the band was undeniable. Melbourne band Gersey followed. Twenty months ago, a Gersey show could well be a hit and miss affair. Hard touring has seen the band develop into an intense beautiful live act, their dynamic sounds coming a long way since their shoegazing raison d’être of the past. They reminded me of Coldplay yet edgier. Some excellent sharp rock guitar harmonies and light show, interspersed with their traditional atmospheric repertoire makes them an act that should do big business overseas.

By the time Magic Dirt proceeded onto the stage, the room was a buzz and at near full capacity. Off the road for a few months in the studio Magic Dirt have shown they still can put on a great live rock show. This Geelong four-piece are one of the survivors from the 90s grunge scene who have managed to secure a much wider fanbase, although their music has remained mostly uncommercial. Tonight they showcased some very good new songs, a change in direction reflecting back to their harder solid guitar approach after their recent studio-savvy releases such as Dirty Jeans, which did not make an appearance in the set. Recent singles may be a source of alienation amongst the die-hard fans, but their latest offerings tonight melt melodically, while others leapt into intense guitar riffs with pin-point accuracy and passion. We Had Love (Scientists cover), and Stagger Lee (Nick Cave cover), were well received by their fans, tasters for a planned mini-album due early next year on the Dirt’s own label. The songs gelled together and complimented each other.

The set arrangement was workmanlike and straight down to business. Unlike previous gigs there was minimal banter between songs from the band. Sucker Love – a song which last closed their previous set now opening for this tour. Perhaps its presence in the new movie Suburban Mayhem may have been a motivating factor? A timeless straight out rocker with a frenzied guitar break at the finish reaquainting the crowd to what put Magic Dirt on the map in the first place. “I’m a sucker for your love” indeed. Redhead followed up nicely. A fluid performance, an infectious guitar solo, and not a carwash in sight. We Had Love is a classic Scientists song given a new lease of life by the Dirt. Garage sounds a plenty with a blistering fuzz box workout. This is a gritty song of pure passion and candour for the masses. Feels Like a Demon, continued the sonic barrage with looping guitars sculpted into the euphoric waves of a thumping bass drum and seductive vocals.

There was no letting up. Opening with a rolling drum beat, Net of Red is one of their newer efforts. The momentum and changes mood throughout making it possibly one of their best songs they’ve written in recent years. Dyin’ had some great drumming but was not a particularly strong performance overall. What next? Just as the band seemed to be losing momentum along comes one of their new songs. A cover. Stagger Lee a turgid brooding Bad Seeds ballad that the band pulls off with aplomb. Adalita’s vocals are really suited to the pain and anguish within. A definite crowd pleaser. Don’t Panic and Hung and Obsessive quickly followed, good choruses but otherwise undistinguished.

Enter Vulcanella, a highlight of the night. An amazingly long and complicated prose poem set to music which incredibly is suited in the live context. This ten minute tour de force allowed Adalita Srsen some time to indulge in mingling with the fans up front sans microphone. Although the band have been around now for fourteen years there is nothing less cathartic about her onstage persona. There is something about this woman and her thunderous voice that is completely mesmerizing.

Horror Me was another new song given a work over. Kicking in next with a personal favourite of mine, She Riff a vicious contortion of a guitar riff ending with a monster cacophony of feedback, carrying them into the encore. Mothers Latest Fear closed the show and it was a perfect way to end proceedings. I was reminded again why I admire this band. A song that builds in momentum from a hypnotic spiral of percussion, bass and guitar to a grinding raucous maelstrom, with Adalita’s on stage antics threatening to join Adam on the drums. The crowd high on the energy wanted more but alas it wasn’t to be.

It is a crime that Magic Dirt’s name are not on the lips of as many Australians as that of Wolfmother, Eskimo Joe and our beloved Midnight Oil as they surely are equal if not rank above all of them in sass and energy. I look forward to seeing them again.

SET LIST

Sucker Love
Redhead
We Had Love
Feels Like a Demon
Net of Red
Dyin’
Stagger Lee
Don’t Panic
Hung and Obsessive
Vulcanella
Horror Me
She Riff

Encore;
Mothers Latest Fear

Line-up: Adalita Srsen (vocals/guitar), Dean Turner (bass), Raul Sanchez (guitar), Adam Robertson (drums)