The Drones @ The Gaelic Club, Sydney
I was looking very forward to seeing The Drones last night. I had seen them once earlier this year but last night really showed me what a special band this is. Lots of articles lately have been citing The Drones as Australia’s most important/intelligent/intense band and I have to say I may agree. As an outsider to Australia, Gala Mill, The Drones new record, has taught me a lot; it’s visceral, beautiful, honest poetry backed with music that kicks you in the teeth demanding your full attention.
Last night’s set drew heavily from Gala Mill which suited me fine. The show started with some relatively quieter songs before bursting with intense performances of songs from the last album and ending with ‘Jezebel,’ Song of the Year candidate around my house. The four song encore began with lead singer Gareth Liddiard taking a stool and acoustic guitar to play 30 verse/10 minute long convict narrative ‘Sixteen Straws’ (video below); I was not expecting this song to be played and to have it sit quietly in the set was perfect. It somehow even managed to shut up Super Drunk Guy behind me. Openers Darling Downs also joined the band onstage for a couple songs including closer ‘This Time’. I will be first in line to see them live when they return to Sydney. I’ve posted some photos here.
Download the first single off Gala Mill below:
And here’s a live version of Neil Young’s ‘Cortez The Killer.’
Cortez The Killer
More downloads available here.
Darling Downs and perennial opener Jack Ladder supported but were blown out of the water.
October 5th, 2006 05:20
i just got this record in the mail, would you be into reviewing it for s-hawk?
if you don’t have it, i can even mail you the promo i have… though ill rip it and send the mp3s ahead of time.
December 31st, 2006 01:05
[...] And some very, very honourable mentions go to The White Stripes @ Hordern Pavilion, Sigur Ros @ The Enmore, The Grates @ The Metro, Belle and Sebastian @ The Enmore, The Mess Hall @ The Annandale, Young and Restless @ Candy’s, The Drones @ The Gaelic Club, Die! Die! Die! / Gotye / The Basics @ Homebake, and Noel Gallagher @ The Enmore. Not a bad year I must say. [...]