Photo: Aaron Sammut

Blue Mountains pop quartet Cloud Control are this tour’s opening act, and their efforts tonight undoubtedly win over further converts to their highly melodic causes. Singer Al Wright is as confident a performer as you’ll find among the Australian indie rock scene, and although his unchanging, frail guitar tone becomes irksome as the set winds down, his shared vocal duties with keyboardist Heidi Lenffer results in a pleasant sound best exemplified during Buffalo Country and new single Death Cloud.

In an era where has-been artists are prone to ill-advised reformation tours, it’s comforting to witness Supergrass, who’ve never lost their touch. Born from the Britpop era of the mid-1990s and outlasting most of their contemporaries, the core four – and occasional fifth member, youngest Coombes brother Charly – have thankfully opted to retain their scheduled Great Escape sideshows in support of 2008’s Diamond Hoo Ha. A huge banner bearing their name introduces the band, who erupt with enjoyable newies Diamond Hoo Ha Man, 345 and Rebel In You.

But it’s the bloated back catalogue of staggering pop quality that we’re here to witness tonight, and the band are happy to oblige. Longtime fans are ecstatic when frontman Gaz Coombes introduces 1994 debut single Caught By The Fuzz and its b-side, Strange Ones; She’s So Loose and final encore Lenny from their debut album I Should Coco are also included, though the seldom-played Alright is a notable omission. Slower numbers St Petersburg and Late In The Day break up the pace a little, and provide curious juxtaposition to the enormous rock sounds of Mary and Moving. The set’s only blemish is a slightly underwhelming Richard III, which finds Rob Coombes’ memorable key solo all but buried in the mix. The irresistibly catchy Pumping On Your Stereo closes the set proper, before much-loved 1997 single Sun Hits The Sky and a cover of Next To You by The Police complete a breathtaking set. If life truly is a cigarette, Supergrass will surely smoke ‘til the end.

ANDREW MCMILLEN

Comments (1)

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*