Photo: Madeleine Marx-Bentley

Three revered bands from Australia’s bygone pub circuit come together in a suitably suburban setting. Sunday is $9.90 Roast night upstairs, so it’s a full crowd who gather close to the stage for The Stems just before 7pm. Although originally forming for in the early-’80s, every beat song and love-soaked lyric breathes the mid-’60s. In fact, when The Stems announce a new song, it’s almost a misnomer, sounding more like another powerpop gem they’ve uncovered from a record vault last opened in 1966. With keys opening up their fuzzy sound to a whole new melodic level, it’s as though these four aging men recreated some of the most hazy garage pop since The 13th Floor Elevators, then left their garage open for followers like The Dirtbombs and Rocket Science to practice in. The Stems are a revelation to these virgin ears.

It’s unbridled noise let loose over the top of classic structured three minute songs – it’s hard now to believe Radio Birdman had to help invent this timeless sound, but not hard to hear why they’re still considered kings. The ironically named Rob Younger is looking ever more senior, but starting with a pounding Burned My Eye, he proves he’s entirely mesmerising as frontman, giving Peter Garrett a crazydance for his money. Gargantuan drumming and mind-fucking guitar bludgeoning ensure Deniz Tek’s songs, old and new, give goosebumps underneath the sweat, and finishing with Aloha Steve & Danno and New Race makes it seem unlikely anyone can follow that set.

Of course, Hoodoo Gurus do, with effortless triumph. In a decidedly non-glam evening of t-shirts and jeans, Dave Faulkner remarks that “If you ever wondered what the ‘80s were like, wonder no more – the venue, the sweat and noise like this.” The shiny-headed vocalist bellows his way through fifteen party rock tracks that punters shout back – I Want You Back, The Right Time, Death Defying, Come Anytime, Miss Freelove ‘69, 1000 Miles Away, What’s My Scene, I Was A Kamikaze Pilot… Holy shit, this catalogue just keeps on unfolding. Dancing like a dickhead and grinning at the stage in wonder, it runs through my head that other publications may point to future generations of Australia being in good hands because of things like interest in Anzac marches and home ownership. So long as the three equally incredible bands here tonight are appreciated by and influence some kids today, Rave says Australia is going to be all right. Fucking eye-wettingly fantastic.

SIMON TOPPER

Comments (5)

2. Written by Barra, on 19-09-2007 09:52 The Stems moved me, I did the pop with radio birdman and the gurus, well I want them back. Awesome gig

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