It is a rare and wondrous experience to see two of Australia’s most exciting and iconic bands (Underground Lovers and Youth Group) together at the legendary Corner Hotel on a bitter cold Melbourne night. It was one of those special nights that capture something unique.
Of course it was made extra special by it being the Underground Lovers home turf which added a certain frisson (and a lot of banter) to the evening, and it was also the chance to see Youth Group after a little absence.
Youth Group had just released new single ‘Siberia’ the day before which heralded a whole new chapter – a more innovative, motorik beat and electronic layer to their signature jingle jangle sound, perfectly executed in the live arena. But what remains constant is singer Toby Martin’s exquisite and distinctive vocals that float with a certain luminescence. They ended the altogether too brief set with ‘Shadowland’: a massive anthemic song from 2004’s brilliant ‘Skeleton Jar’ album having introduced a few new songs and understandably avoiding their famous cover of ‘Forever Young’. And why wouldn’t you with such a brilliant catalogue of originals.
With a new album on the way, it is clear that Youth Group is back with a vengeance and their performance tonight was a perfect start.
I have to fully declare my bias: I firmly believe Underground Lovers are one of the best and most important antipodean bands of the past thirty years and are criminally underrated. I always claim they were world innovators in the delivery of shoegaze/dream pop and a mix of eletronica and organic instruments, purveyors of an intelligent dance pop style that is unmatchable both on record and live.
And tonight, they were so incendiary that if it was an Australian summer, they would have been banned. Luckily it was a bleakly cold Melbourne evening but their performance generated enough heat and magic to warm even the most frozen underdressed soul on the way back home afterwards.
The Undies were celebrating thirty years since the release of what is probably their most commercially successful album ‘Dream It Down’. Speaking about the record, frontmen Glenn Bennie and Vincenzo Giarrusso noted that,
‘Dream It Down’ is a significant album for us: it marked a change in direction musically for the band, and a change in the way we went about recording albums. Our philosophy was, and still is, that it should be all about the song.
The set list tonight covered most of the album – the liquid ambulant ‘Losin’ It’, the eyeliner dramas of ‘Superstar’ and ‘Las Vegas’ segueing into ‘Earth Manna’ before belting us over the head with a ‘best of’ diversion including the magnificent ‘Your Eyes’ (one of my personal top favourite songs of all time) with Maurice Argiro’s scything bass and Richard Andrew’s stunning drumming.
Final song after the sadly abbreviated encore was a particular nuclear version of ‘Au Pair’ from the band’s return from a hiatus (unbelievably now more than ten years ago).
In a lovely touch, Derek Yuen, the drummer in the band at the time of ‘Dream It Down’ made a Bez-like contribution to many songs on stage with some adept lead tambourine (and some connection, apparently, to the design of the footwear of the Australian Olympic team). Amanda Brown (from The Go-Betweens and various solo work) and Zoe Barry added an spectral luster with strings.
The band’s delivery was potent enough but what was even more endearing was the clear camaraderie on stage: each member with their own unique characteristic that combined to create something mesmerising and enchanting. From the drama and showmanship of Giarusso, the dedicated concentration of Bennie, the stately presence of Argiro, the wild cookie monster demeanor of Andrew, Philippa Nihill’s ethereal vocals and presence to the multi-talented Emma Bortignon.
It felt like a very special evening, a particular moment in time to be treasured, and evidence that the Undies just keep getting better and better.
The Undies continue on their tour next week and you would have to be a special type of crazy not to go and see them. You can buy tickets here.
Feature Photograph and Gallery: Arun Kendall
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