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 Photo: Jade Lake
Entering the Zoo at 8.45pm I realised I’ve missed The Bird Automatic and curse for the umpteenth time the trend towards early-starting shows. The worst of the disappointment is reduced by a friend recently returned from Paris, who relates that major gigs are invariably all over by 9pm. Night owls, the clock is ticking for us all. Iron On are next up, returning to the live stage after a hiatus spent recording a new EP, several songs of which feature tonight. For a band supposedly out of practice, tonight is one of the tightest sets I’ve seen from the four-piece, a genuine joy shining through as they work through the new tracks. Ross Hope’s voice is stronger and clearer than ever, and Kate Cooper’s inflections give each song an added dash of character. They must be preparing for big stages next year, as their set closes with an agitpop-type entreaty to the audience to ‘enrol to vote’, before breaking into their bona-fide indie hit, Learn Today, Earn Tomorrow. Iron On today, U2 tomorrow? By the time Shout Out Louds arrive on stage, a good-sized and equally good-natured crowd has gathered to welcome the Swedes. Flags featured on the band’s Our Ill Wills album art festoon the stage, and the band appear cheerful, if not explicitly overjoyed, to be playing tonight. Keyboardist Bebban Stenborg has been replaced for the evening by ‘Sarah’, who apparently had to learn the songs in ‘two days’. She does an excellent job, providing keyboards, backing vocals, xylophone and violin; but of course it’s frontman Adam Olenius’ voice that takes centre-stage. His slightly skewed Robert-Smith-in-pop-mode soaring through great renditions of Time Left For Love, The Comeback, and the bittersweet pop glory of Impossible. Tonight I Have To Leave It ends the first set, but the band are back on in no time for the driving Hard Rain, and a final song performance of Very Loud, their breakout track from debut Howl Howl Gaff Gaff. Some Ballroom Blitz drums from Eric Edmond help propel it to brilliance, ensuring punters leave happy, but overall it feels like something was missing tonight. Be it the strings that on CD give their songs a sublime sheen, or anything resembling crowd engagement (Olenius didn’t really seem to be trying), the performance is pleasant but not extraordinary. Alas. TOPHER HEALY
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