Last week saw Howling Bells flee their home base of London for a three-show whirlwind tour of Australia. Maybe they wanted to catch some of that early southern summer sunshine so it was a bit shit Melbourne’s skies couldn’t turn it on for them, instead giving them a taste of the bitter cold they’ve probably grown accustom. It was the band’s first gulp of Australian air since 2011 and now with four albums under their collective belt, the quandary of choosing which songs to showcase may have been another cloud hanging over their heads.
Opening support act Glassmaps is the solo side project of Howling Bells guitarist Joel Stein and in its live format features Stein on guitar and vocals with a backing drummer. Bodies were stark as he ran through his set of electronically infected ballads and despite his best efforts it all seemed to fall upon deaf ears. The songs themselves are drenched in synthetic harmonies and as he says on his band page, he’s “constantly pushing sonic boundaries in the studio, forever seeking a truly unique voice.”
It was only after stuffing up the intro to one of their last songs that second support act Ali Barter informed the crowd that it was the band’s first gig together. At the core of Barter’s song is a strong pop sensibility with straight forward lyrics that conjure vivid imagery. This first show with band in tow seems like a turning point in her music with track Red Sea undergoing quite the overhaul from an acoustic ballad to full band arrangement.
Opening with the first two tracks off their latest release Heartstrings, Howling Bells finally managed to pull the audience across the invisible velvet rope that held them back from approaching the stage. Front woman and guitarist Juanita Steins noticed the severe lack of rambunctious behaviour the audience was exhibiting commenting on how well behaved we all were. It was a diffused set list taking in most of the band’s back catalogue but mostly featured their latest songs and those off their lauded self-titled debut. A Ballad For The Bleeding Hearts stopped hearts as the band was drenched in red light and Stein’s murmured lyrics cut over simmering guitar lines. Moments like that make one reflect on what a real shame it is that Australian bands have to piss overseas to find a big enough audience to support themselves.
BY RHYS MCRAE
Photo By Ian Laidlaw
Loved: The crowd dubbing English bassist Gary, ‘Gazzzzaa’.
Hated: Myself for not seeing the huge bar line and skipping it.
Drank: Guilt.
