Melbourne four-piece Elephant Ego had an incredibly successful launch at the Northcote Social Club.
When the supports played, however, the room was barely a quarter full, and it depresses me a little when people don’t check out the support act. I remember checking out a little-known band supporting Die Die Die back in 2005 called Eddy Current Suppression Ring, so start getting to gigs early people!
I really like the stage curtain at The Northcote Social Club. It creates excitement and builds anticipation, because the first time you see the band is when they’re playing their first song.
This wasn’t quite the case with Elephant Ego, as they had an intro song consisting of 90 seconds of driving electro house. While being at odds with the band’s standard rock band set up – Zak Degengardt on lead guitar, Ted Mitchell on rhythm guitar/vocals, Alex Capper on bass and drums with Will Clancy – the ravey intro worked for the packed room.
The intro gave way to a thick and textured instrumental, a profound collusion of musicianship between the four Eastern suburb locals.
When I first saw Elephant Ego at Ding Dong Lounge 18 months ago – they were called Star Caps On Will back then – their sound was deeply ethereal with a slightly Byron Bay diddle. However, the band gracing the stage at NSC was a full on rock beast that paid homage to rock’n’roll greats right across a number of eras, namely the ‘60s and ‘80s.
Sometimes I Get Carried away was a powerful song with the calm drive of Fleetwood Mac; it made the perfect bed for Mitchell’s Sting-esque wail. A great visual element was a projection of a POV camera driving around Melbourne that slowed and sped up with the music.
In an interlude, Degengardt, who was dressed in oversized denim overalls, told some terrible jokes based around his attire: “It’s great that everyone came down. I can see everyone at the front here, but I can’t see anyone at the back OVERALL all these people,” and: “I’m sure you’re getting tired of the jokes, some might even say you’re OVERALL of them.”
The band’s last song was the suitable large rock track, Silverback Jack. It opened with the riff from Hendrix’s Foxy Lady – a hat tip to one of the Elephant Ego’s many stylistic influences.
BY DAN WATT
Loved: The ‘Ego.
Hated: Only a quarter of the crowd watching the first two bands.
Drank: Some cheap beer with Day Of The Dead skulls on it – saaaa on trend.
