In 2011, IceCream Hands played 1999’s ARIA-nominated Sweeter Than The Radio in its shimmering entirety to a packed out Northcote Social Club. The gig was an enormous success, so it’s not surprising that the much-missed Melbourne combo decided to do it all again here in 2015.
The Wellingtonsreprised their role as pop-tastic support band. Their zesty take on energetic and edgy power pop was the ideal primer for the evening. When IceCream Hands hit the stage, the huge audience gave them a hero’s welcome. With guitar-slinger Marcus Goodwin “off fishing”, the sharply-dressed Davey Lane from You Am I was the stand-in fretboard wizard for the uplifting, crowd-pleasing show. The band’s easy humour and inclusive banter contributed to the convivial warmth. Frontman Chuck Skatt asked playfully, “What is track three on this record?” When the audience shouted the answer, “Dodgy” he replied with a, “Fuck yeah.”
The first major sing-along of the night occurred during Nipple and the audience was certainly in fine voice. Skatt introduced Yellow and Blue by saying, “Here’s a song we ripped off UK Squeeze”. With Lane kicking out the jams like a youthful Pete Townshend, the band pumped out a surprisingly rockin’ version of this catchy classic. You Could Be Reported was a cheery treat, featuring Lane on ukulele, drummer Derek Smiley on the percussive egg, Doug Robertson “on the paisley shirt” and Skatt on acoustic guitar.
Encores included the melodic tour-de-force Rain Hail Shine, obscurities such as Ed’s General Store and an inspired foot-stomping rendition of Bowie’s Boys Keep Swinging. Let’s hope that we don’t have to wait another four years for this talented band to return to the live stage.
BY GRAHAM BLACKLEY
Loved: The camaraderie among the band members.
Hated: That it had to end.
Drank: Globe Draught.
