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 Photo: Matt Palmer
Recently, it has been a consistent topic of conversation with several friends, all longtime You Am I fans, that while the band has sounded terrific in the last two years or so, the band’s sets in that time have involved similar greatest hits driven lists, scooping songs only from the surface of their impressive back catalogue depths. After all this time, our over-analytical wankfests have proceeded, is it possible that the most watchable rock & roll band in the country is getting a touch of the same-ole same-oles?
Starting the evening with two ideally-chosen high quality bands is a step back in the right direction - first the local dark country jangle-rockers Mexico City who seem to have been missing from our sights for a little while, followed by Perth’s current hot name on everyone’s lips, Modular ‘60s psych-fuzz purveyors Tame Impala.
As Timmy, Andy, Rusty and Davey are welcomed to their millionth night at The Zoo, reflective tracks from new album Dilettantes begin things with a welcome different spin, including a guest cellist who will go on to feature on around half of the entire set. To these ears, this eighth album has been the hardest to get into of their career, but hearing the gorgeous title track and the music industry hand-biting Givin’ Up And Gettin’ Fat laid out live, the entire record quickly clicks and falls right into place like that difficult tetris piece that you’ve been patiently waiting for. But what about the older material? ‘Here’s classic album track number one’ Tim grins as he directly addresses our unasked question, introducing the cracking 10 year old Arse Kickin’ Lady From The North-West, and as those rarely-heard tracks roll out – Moon Shines On Trubble, She Digs Her, Trike, Constance George – flushed trainspotters fan themselves in glee. This is also the first time Davey Lane has returned lead guitar duties to Rogers and sat behind a keyboard for some tracks, notably reinventing a honky lounge Heavy Heart. With some small but welcome evolutions in sound and a truly satisfying sweaty set behind them, the biggest surprise though is saved for last, with an encore that starts with a grinding Syd Barret cover, and wraps up with album closer The Piano Up The Tree. Swirling, chugging and slow building, the new song inspires an impromptu call-and-response singalong that chokes up a clearly appreciative Rogers, and ends with the most powerful few minutes of rock & roll all night. It’s an unexpected highlight in a show that slams expectations of the familiar world of You Am I out of the park.
SIMON TOPPER
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