Tim: “It wasn’t that good, but it wasn’t that shit. Or was it?”
Wally: “You’ve just written the review of this gig, Tim.”
The Basics have spent the past seven weeks touring the lethal, red heart of Australia. Playing schools and driving across deserts, the band that turned up at the Annandale on Thursday night appeared tired and a tad edgy with each other. At times the joking on stage seemed to be hiding some deeper frustrations within the band.
However, I really hope I’m wrong about that. If you read this blog regularly you’ll know I’m a huge fan of The Basics and I happen to think they are one of the best live bands in Australia; I really don’t want to them to disappear. Despite the exhaustion, Kris, Tim and Wally still put on an entertaining show. Mixing up some new songs with the “classics,” the band played for about an hour. As always, Wally was a machine on the drums all night long.
The new songs, which I’ve seen live a few times now, are growing on me more. One of them, She’s The Executioner, is a totally different style of song for the band and it’s great to see them taking chances on songs outside their comfort zone. Of the oldies, My Baby and Rattle My Chain were particularly killer. The band also threw in a few covers including a version of The Sonics’ Shot Down and closing the night with a Wally-led take on Roxanne by The Police.
Setlist
Yeah Yeah
Second Best
Have Love Will Travel
Hey There!
Just Hold On
Shot Down
What Do You See In Me?
Money (Gimme, Gimme)
Like A Brother
She’s The Executioner
My Baby
Rattle My Chain
Call It Rhythm And Blues
———
I Could Be Happy
Roxanne
Joining The Basics on this leg of the tour are The Bawdies who can most easily be described as a Japanese version of The Basics. Unlike The Basics who were suitless, the boys in The Bawdies took to the Annandale stage in style in matching Beatles-suits and Beatles-boots. Over the course of their set they managed to really endear themselves to the audience with their straight-up 1960s British Invasion hooks.
In contrast with The Basics, The Bawdies seemed to be having the night of their lives. They were constantly engaging with the audience, chucking coordinated guitar poses, and smiling throughout the entire set. Fairly unknown, I believe, back in Japan, The Bawdies seem to be finding a second home here in Australia as The Basics have taken them in under their wing.
All in all, a pretty enjoyable double-bill. Be sure to catch them on the remaining dates if you have the chance.
My photos from the gig.