The Hi-Fi - Tue Mar 2

The blend of two-man garage electric blues and lonesome dove country balladry makes Sydney’s The Fumes a band raucous enough to play with Clutch and rootsy enough to play with Calexico. High-profile supports aside, singer/guitarist Steve Merry and drummer Joel Battersby prove a visceral rock & roll duo in their own right.

Melbourne act Wagons also have a “go for the gut” approach, the eclectic and atmospheric aspect of their recorded work replaced with a consistently energetic and appealing country rock vibe. Frontman Henry Wagons’ stage banter appears to be comprised of whatever is in his head at the time – luckily for us, his head is weird and funny. Highlight of the night.

Calexico collaborator Jairo Zavala performs under the name DePedro, delivering a short but sweet set of Spanish folk rock, ultimately backed by the full Calexico line-up.

Calexico by numbers is still a darn sight more enjoyable than many bands giving it their all, but as someone who’s witnessed the group at their peak, there’s a degree of magic missing tonight from the Tuscon combo. Having caught them at The Zoo years back where their Morricone rock was at its most exhilarating, this crowd visibly thins as the show continues. Not that Joey Burns and co sound bad or anything – the mariachi trumpets and dry indie rock still make for a frequently lovely combination. Also, Sunken Waltz remains a classic pop song and their storming version of Love’s Alone Again Or makes a welcome appearance. Anyone else, and I’d be giving this a firm thumbs up. But I know for a fact that Calexico are capable of better.

MATT THROWER

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