Casually strumming a guitar and singing downbeat songs, Rick Fights showcases songs from his debut album Fights as the Northcote Social Club slowly fills. It is a sad bummed out note that Fights’ songs hit as he plays at being a world weary troubadour. Disappointingly Fights’ delivery is nervous and his reaction to small mistakes magnifies them out of proportion. He gives us an awkward look of surprise as punters applaud his efforts before leaving the stage.
The last couple of years has seen a blossoming of indie electro sounds and Baltimore trio Future Islands are most definitely a part of this stampede. As they set sail with Give Us The Wind, Future Islands exude a quirky oddball charm that captures the hearts of the crowd that sold out the NSC tonight. Gerrit Welmers on keys and William Cashion on bass whip up eighties inspired synth pop confection that references everyone from Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark to China Crisis and even Japan. The duo fade into the background with laid back performances that ensure vocalist Samuel T. Herring remains the focus of our attention for the duration of the set. Many are surprised by Herring’s performance as he shifts from William Shatner-esque ham actor theatrics, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and hand actions, to letting loose deep throaty guttural howls that would make the front men of many extreme metal bands envious. Much like John Maus’ performances, Herring demands suspension of disbelief so that you engage completely with the cavalcade of characters he rather schizophrenically presents. Working up an extreme amount of sweat, Herring soaked to the bone seemed to transform himself into a werewolf, howling at the work and exaggeratedly throwing himself about the stage with spellbinding conviction. Confessing to being just a little jet lagged the trio played a lot of unreleased tunes and early obscenities. In town to promote their latest long player On The Water, it was tunes off their last album In Evening Air like Walking Through That Door and Long Flight that loosened up the crowd and got them jumping. Herrings astonishing throaty Tom Waits-esque growl on Tin Man was perhaps the highlight of the evening. The strange combination of bossa and lilting waltz of Little Dreamer concluded a sweaty evening of dancing with a dreamy soulful nocturnal serenade.
THE SIDEMAN
LOVED: The audience.
HATED: Lack of visuals.
DRANK: Not tonight. Ugh.
