Photo: Aaron Sammut

It’s so convenient when the support act at a gig is a band you wanted to see anyway. Such is the case with Songs, whose debut LP of last year has me keenly anticipating their set tonight. They don’t disappoint either, with the catchy guitar churn of Farmacy and the effective dual-vocals of Different Light making for a perfect start to the evening. Just An Idea’s undulating sonic sprawl is a great showcase for the band, and they finish things off motorik-style with My Number.

After having a go at manning the merch booth, Yo La Tengo find themselves on stage in what is perhaps the quickest support-to-main break ever. It seems some more time setting up would have been a good idea though, as the sound is initially dreadful. More Stars Than There Are In Heaven loses all shape and structure with Ira Kaplan’s vocals and guitar barely audible. Fortunately the sound issues are resolved by Stockholm Syndrome, and all prior disappointment vanishes quickly. Kaplan and wife/drummer Georgia Hubley share a cutesy back-and-forth in If It’s True while Here To Fall is given a particularly slow, crushing rendition powered by thick bass twangs. The very fun Periodically Double Or Triple has Kaplan injecting some theatrics into the set, and When It’s Dark puts Hubley’s gorgeous, understated vocals centre stage. The set hits its apex with an incredible version of Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind. Kaplan wrenches every sound out of his guitar that he can, dangling it by a single string among other things as James McNew serenely grooves on the repeated bassline. The band returns for a cover-oriented encore that culminates in the Go-Betweens’ Dive For Your Memory. Despite its problematic start it’s a superb set from a group with endless versatility and just as much talent.

MICHAEL PINCOTT

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