It’s been nothing but cream with the latest crop of bands that Mistletone have been touring lately: Metz, the Julie Ruin, Kurt Vile and tonight Parquet Courts. The Brooklyn quartet have exploded over the last 6 months despite their ‘break through’ sophomore album Light Up Gold coming out at the end of late 2012, it only reached Australian ears in late 2013. Better late than never.
The first chord rang out and the crowd shuffled forward for openers Constant Mongrel, filling the normally empty space in front of the stage that most openers attempt to serenade. Shambolic and erratic, Constant Mongrel conjure some kind of charm with their post-punk-garage-noise that manages to keep the love affair going with Melbourne punters.
Tonight’s show was pretty much a double header: the crowd just as psyched to see Total Control as they were Parquet Courts. The band proceeded to unleash a wall of sound, twice as intense as the record, a sheer force of noise that was simultaneously overwhelming in its brooding intensity and welcoming in its pop nuances. There’s something brilliant about the five frontline members spitting the chorus of Retiree at you, all a similar height and build, the refrain looked and sounded almost militant in its delivery.
Parquet Courts opened with a lengthy guitar jam, a clever play that only enhanced the following track, Black and White, when they eventually ripped into it. The band’s characteristic intertwining guitar melodies sounded deceivingly loose and limber live, the nonchalant cool of guitarists Andrew Savage and Austin Brown highlighting the fact. But that’s how the consummate professionals make it look.
The perfect one second gap between Master Of My Craft and Borrowed Time on the Light Up Gold album was a kick to witness live – putting a grin on many a punters face. Tracks from their latest EP Tally All The Things That You Broke seemed more at home filled with the frantic energy that is only derived from playing live, particularly The More it Works which Savage unleashed with a manic ferocity.
A quick and succinct set from Parquet Courts, with little banter to warm the crowd, but there was no denying the enjoyment tonight’s attendees received from seeing some of the best slacker pop songs written of late come to life.
BY KRYSTAL MAYNARD
Photos by Anna Kanci
Loved: Not staring at the back of someone’s head.
Hated: The shortness of the set.
Drank: Too much for a school night.
