There was a delicious meeting of two icons this Sunday late afternoon in Melbourne. The venerable Corner Hotel celebrated its thirty years – no small feat surviving in the cut throat world of music venues, and local legends Underground Lovers celebrated thirty years since the release of the album ‘Rushall Station’. The venue was packed and fittingly full for the support act, Amaya Laucirica who has featured on our pages before.
Backed by two of the newer Underground Lovers Mat Watson (drums) and Matthew Sigley (bass) pulling a double shift, Laucirica produced a magnificent set showcasing her melodic and ethereal sound: it was captivating and enchanting music with an enthralling performance.
The Undies were missing a few regulars – Philippa Nihil on backing vocals, guitars and keys, Amanda Brown on strings and of course the late lamented Richard Andrew on drums, but new players Mat Watson on drums and Matthew Sigley on guitars and keys provided a whole new dimension.
It was brilliant to hear most of ‘Rushall Station’ – it was the difficult album following the relative commercial success of ‘Dream It Down’ and beset with machinations with record companies. In a sense it represented the band breaking out on their own with a degree of independence while still delivering the sweetest of indie pop, albeit a little more reflective and a lot more electronica mixed with the analogue, thanks to the production work of Robert Goodge.
The sweeping live strings added this analogue element to the mix while Sigley’s synth work provided the sonic juxtaposition with his architecure.
The original drummer, Derek John Yuen was on stage playing various percussion instruments, which was a lovely touch. For ‘On and On and On and On’ the local hero Jack Howard from Hunters and Collectors made a special appearance on trumpet providing the distinctive ‘parps’.
The band ended with a brief ‘greatest hits’ finale and while the power and force of ‘Your Eyes’ will always be an eviscerating sonic earthquake live, tracks like Losin’ It and Starsigns were delivered with a throbbing motorik pulse.
Singer Vince Giarrusso, mastering the glockenspiel, delivered another enigmatic performance with a constant twinkle in his eye, although seemingly moved by the delicate and haunting delivery of ‘Cold Feeling’. Glenn Bennie in his trademark cap and almost bent double with the intensity of his guitar playing provided a grounding influence.
Another evening of dynamism from a criminally underrated band that just keeps getting better.
Song List:
All Brand New
Takes You Back
In My Head
On And On And On And On
Rushall Station
Descending For Now
Undone
Ways To Burn
Cold Feeling
Losin’ It
Your Eyes
I Was Right
Starsigns (Encore)
