For the first of their two Melbourne shows of this tour, Canadian punk legends Propagandhi decided to experiment a little: they would begin their set by playing the first song from each of their albums, in chronological order (I guess having a sold-out show the night after means you can get a little creative, right?).
The band kicked things off with Anti-Manifesto, resulting in an almost immediate tumult in the pit (which would be small but energetic throughout the whole night). The excellently-titled Apparently, I’m a “P.C. Fascist” (Because I Care About Both Human and Non-Human Animals) was up next.
Singer Chris was in fine form despite having suffered a major snafu earlier that day, involving some expensive amps and negligent baggage handlers. Someone shouted out something about him “looking good”, only to have Chris cheekily shoot back, “Cheque’s in the mail, buddy!”
Continuing on with their first-song-from-every-album gambit, Propagandhi worked through another few tunes without really hitting their stride. Perhaps it was the sparse, Thursday-night crowd, but the energy levels of the band members seemed all over the place, with bassist Todd’s sweat-soaked enthusiasm and constant fist pumps on one side of the stage and guitarist Dave looking more reserved and slightly high-strung on the other.
Night Letters, from 2009’s Supporting Caste, was a mid-set highlight that got a good crowd response. The band also tested out a new song but it was met with only mild reception.
Then, after what seemed like hardly any time at all, Todd was announcing the last song. After a bit of disorganised yelling which gradually coalesced into a plea for “one more song”, (or from one punter, “all the songs”) the band returned to the stage to smash out a few more quickies, announcing cheerfully that they were a pretty easy band to get an encore out of. They finished on a blistering cover of the Cro Mags’ Hard Times and then with a quick nod and a wave, they were gone.
BY MORGAN RICHARDS
Loved: Todd’s enthusiastic fist-pumps.
Hated: How short punk songs are.
Drank: A couple of pints of draught.
