Young Lovers @ Revolver (23/08/2008)

You know the feeling that it would have been way easier to ignore the fact that things were shitty before something really fantastic happens? Saturday night took a big dirty truth fish and smacked me across the face with that feeling. As I descended the Revolver stairs I realised that, at some point on the tuneful timeline, musicians seem to have become morbidly fearful of saying a humble ‘Thank You’. In a local pit of live music where so many kids are clawing at the rafters for a spotlight, common courtesy now seems a forgotten practice. Saturday observed that a little humility goes a long long way, and makes for a far more enjoyable listening experience. Young Lovers, Red Ink and Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, you see, are nice. Not too nice, mind, but they clearly understand that at no point did being an ungrateful become cool.

First up was Fire! SantaRosa, Fire!. These self-confessed Adelaideians have got the most fantastic attitude, together with rhythm to boot. Opening with a bit of a swaying dance and some angular pop harmonies, Bad Trip could probably have used an extra kick of energy to get things started. While the opening numbers were well performed, they were also pretty safe and it was clear that these casual-listening indies were the warm up act. After seeing what the band later delivered I have to say I don’t think they should need it. With the introduction of Lamborghini Dreams, Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! finally let themselves push it out with a much needed lashing of attitude. Their grooves are absolutely charged, comparable to the percussive drive from Chk Chk Chk, while minimal lyrics leave you with the impression that too many vocals would break the momentum of this rapid ride. On that note, whoever said a tambourine doesn’t bloody rock out was lying. I’ve never seen a band play the shit out of a tambourine so convincingly! The charm of these guys, though, is their willingness to acknowledge that there are actually people standing three feet away from them. After thanking Red Ink and Young Lovers for playing with them, funny-man and lead guitarist Dave Williams declares “Let’s hear it for banter!” Appropriately, in a pulsing slab of bass and percussion, the set left the band and audience alike chanting “Audience par-ti-ci-pa-tion!” These guys really are, dare I say it, on fire! (Ouch.)

The next forty minutes introduced us to Red Ink. Wow. Picture a badger. He just broke up with his special someone. He’s pissed off. Put him in a cage with a guitar and watch him thrash around. …Red Ink sound something like that. The furious energy these guys bring to the stage is startling. After thanking Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! twice (and receiving a compliment on his bowtie in return), vocalist and synth player John Jakubenko lead the group in an explosion of sound which was sustained through the entire performance. At several points I found myself wondering how much longer they could hold out, particularly Aaron Sim’s heart-stomping drumming. Remarkably each band member kept up, almost taunting each other onwards. Although aggressively emotive, Red Ink’s music is also particularly narrative and incredibly similar to The Killers; they really know how to tell a story. A performance of particular emotion came from Brendan Jones who practically drove his right arm through his guitar at times. It was well timed when Red Ink’s Foo Fighter-esque tension alleviated towards the end of the set, giving rise to a funkier line of playing driven largely by bassist James Munns. There is no denying that Red Ink know how to play with a bang. And a crash. And a bow.

Considering that the band had been mingling with the crowd and enjoying their supporters’ music, there was very little suspense to speak of before Young Lovers started playing. Or, more accurately, until they started playing. With the kinetic pulse of Rachael Jakubenko’s bass driving us into Feel Your Heat, it became clear that Young Lovers know how to move a beat. Well. While the rhythm section ploughs the way forward for lead vocalist and synth player Luke Carlson, it seems that the role of ‘front man’ is entirely divided five ways between the talented group. The electric charge of these songs are made evident as a group of punters shift an imposing couch to the side to make room for their dancing pleasures, jerking it out through Say What You Mean (showcasing Carlson’s fantastic baritone) and Take For Me . This song positively kicked, as Jakubenko and lead guitarist Jake Oliver practically bounced off each other’s chests in a brilliant ricochet of energy! Young Lovers work together as a tightly packed unit illuminating the stage, probably testament to the fact that they’re having a world of fun up there as mates as well as musicians.

As the set came closer to an end no one took their foot off the accelerator, announcing a cover of the INXS classic Just Keep Walking. At this point Carlson allowed himself to detach a little from his central position and interact more with the (determinedly) powerful Scott Chalmers pounding at the drums, and Bill Winder who had previously been jamming solely with power-rocket Jakubenko. Although some harmonies struggled, the fun these guys were having hurtled out into the audience as couches were pushed further aside. Carlson overstated it as he later approached the subject, “We managed to put every instrument out of tune in that song.” Honestly, we couldn’t care less. It wasn’t until Yound Lovers performed The People that the exertion of the set caught up with them and left Carlson in particular sounding a little tired, although the lull in energy lasted about two minutes before a tight segue gave way to clear favourite Talking In French for one more leg flailing dance. Guaging the uproar of applause from the crowd as Young Lovers signed off, there was probably no need to thank everyone for their support. Which, of course, they did anyway.