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Aussie BBQ with a ton of bands – at The Echo

March 14, 2010

The week leading up to SXSW is always a good time to be in Los Angeles. Bands from all over the world often start their trek into Texas with a warm up show, or two, in California. Sometimes you get more than just great music, you even get some interesting Aussie BBQ.

The Aussie BBQ brought in authentic Australian beer, meats, and a plethora of bands to the Echo for an all day music extravaganza. I was lucky, or unlucky, enough to get there early enough to catch some of the flown in meal (which was ground sausage on 1 piece of white bread with peppers, onions and mayo). It was vile, but this day wasn’t about free eats, it was about the music.

The first act I caught was Washington. I walked on the last song of the group, but what I caught was great. Sultry singing by a horned rimmed glasses wearing female with a pixie haircut and synth with the word “nerd” replacing the moog logo. Cute, chic and someone whom I would have liked to have caught a few more songs by.

Dappled Cities would take the stage with singer Tim Derricourt sipping on some whiskey before telling the crowd of their night.

“We got into a bar fight. There was a stool thrown, people were running around. It was crazy.”

Only a few people would hear this story as only a dozen people would be in the venue. This didn’t slow the boys at all, in fact their set had to be one of the most animated of the day.

By mid set, with the group jumping around and bringing some life to the Echo, the entire place filled up. The songs from current album “Zounds” were filled with catchy hooks and licks that made you want to dance around. And everyone was dancing until the music went out.

“We don’t need electricity,” Derricourt explained as he tried to plug his guitar back in after Dave Rennick stepped on his chord. After a few minutes they got everything back in order and were told they had one song left.

“You heard that song,” Rennick explained as they went into their final song to close out their set.

Paul Dempsey was to be next, but due to daylight savings time was late so Oh Mercy! slid up a set time. This four piece was a weird act for me. The singer’s eyes were glazed over and he never would even crack a smile in a black suit and tie. The songs also reflected a laid back classic feel, like driving down the PCH in a convertible in the 50’s.


While the crowd was slowly thinning out through the set the singer turned to the female on bass, “let’s bring the noise”, before getting into their last song. It was another mellow song and I almost laughed, like he was being sarcastic, then midway through the pangs and pings of the guitars built up into a galactic jam of fuzzy guitars. It was like watching a different band and was a perfect way to end a set and leave those that didn’t make their way outside for a smoke happy they held out for their nicotine fix.

Paul Dempsey would follow and my following will be brief. This guy is Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) in Australia, well that’s my take. Paul is an older guy on acoustic guitar singing sappy love songs which might second as worship music. In just the first song I caught the phrase “nothing adorable to say” and “happy on my yellow brick road”.

After three songs I just couldn’t stomach anymore of this bland acoustic act and took a break to head outside to the free Australian beer. I think I may have been the only American out there as everyone eating and drinking had an accent. Even Australian artist Andy Clockwise found his way to the BBQ to support his local Aussie’s.

Children Collide was the act of the day I was hearing a ton of buzz on and made sure to be inside before the trio started. Based on the looks and there only being bass, guitar and drums I figured this was going to be a straight up Punk outfit. Long hair and a shirt with a rat with boobs on it kind of gives off that impression. Also the opening line of “We’re Australian, so is everyone else,” furthered their image.

The group did have full on Punk songs like the distorted vocals and pounding bass line of “Skeleton Dance” which while catchy, didn’t show the bands full range. While singing the band pretty much stayed by their mics without much interactions.

From the simple power chords churning out familiar punk riffs would transcend into noisy interludes of destructive explosions. During these explosions the two front men would spaz around stage while heaving thrashing the guitars and bass. The singer would even yell into his guitar for moments to give a robotic vocal of pure distortion. There was a reason for all the buzz, and the buzz just wasn’t in my ears when the group walked off the stage without saying a single word. I guess that’s Punk rock.

Goons of Doom would follow up and and explain, “We ARE rock and roll,” This was uttered by the singer with a mullet as the group got onstage. The whole feel of Goons of Doom was that of Queens of the Stone Age. Straight up rock and roll with funny lyrics inspired from an earlier time.

The group would switch instruments and singers after almost every song. No one in the band looked like they would get along but everything onstage said the individual looks of the members gave so much more to this band.

From Elvis inspired rock classics to classical “chunka, chunka, chunka,” ska riffs there was a little something for everyone. And if the music wasn’t enough the antics were enough to make anyone smile.

“This song is called shark attack. It’s about when….ummm…sharks….attack.”
Yeah there was a shark attack, The singer with the mullet made his way offstage and onto the floor while trying to swim away, but oh no, here comes the shark. The shark was just another member of the band who would roll around on the floor with Mr. Mullet as a fan poured beer on them.

If this is how Aussies party, send me down under.

Crayon Fields was another special Australian treat. This was the groups’ first show on American soil and many had stayed just to catch this performance.

Complete with mics that had roses on them, Crayon Fields brought soft ballads to soften the mood from the prior noise that was hammering out of the speakers. The first few songs often dragged on with slow vocals without much contrast. When the group went a cappella and the trio of guys all harmonized their voices I finally saw the draw in these guys. Their layers of harmony in the vocals are what these guys are about. It was easy to get lost in these moments of synchronization.

The last group of the evening for me was the leather clad group known as Riot City.
If someone would have said it was JET on stage I wouldn’t have noticed a difference. These guys had the look and attitude of these 80s hair band reclamation projects that keep popping up. The lead mans vocals, which had a range on the falsettos, gave me the impression that this band might be more than just big hair.

And they were bigger than their hair. Their sound pounding outside the Echo and the kick drums brought on a full foot stomp from the crowd which now was around 20 people. I almost felt bad for the group because there was a moment when you could feel that a clap should be started, and the singer went to clap, but then looked into the almost empty room and just kept rocking out.

And that was what the Aussie BBQ was all about, bands just rocking out in every possible way.

 

Carl Pocket
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 


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