GIG REVIEW: Powderfinger / The Outline
- Posted on December 7, 2007 2:51 PM
- 3 comments
Band: Powderfinger
Venue: Hammersmith Apollo
Date: 6th December 2007
Review by Ash Akhtar
Support: The Outline
The Hammersmith Apollo (Carling are no longer sponsors) has an epic place in rock history. With a capacity of 5,000, the Apollo has played host to some of the finest acts in rock history. LA’s The Outline want to drink and party with all of us; and who wouldn’t? Tonight’s audience, comprised of mostly Antipodeans in their mid 20s, are possibly the friendliest I have ever been a part of. The Outline are a curious hybrid of the Killers, LCD Soundsystem and any garage band. Signed to UK label 30:30 records, the band is promoting their debut, You Smash It, We'll Build Around It; as UK support to Australian rockers Powderfinger. The Outline have clearly crafted their indie-electronica, and there is some strong interplay between the band, but the sound emanating from the PA is muddy and confused. Guitars fade in and out of phase, the kick drum is huge while the snare sounds like someone opening a can of pop, the bass is completely undefined and the vocals lurch psychotically in and out of the mix. It could be that their engineer is more used to smaller venues, but this is the Apollo. Apollo: as in the God of music and poetry. The Outline are probably a great band when playing their set in The Buffalo bar or its US equivalent, but their set simply made me want to put on Sound of Silver really, really loud. I sincerely hope that when they return to tour the UK in 2008, that they don’t bring with them a soundman with wooden ears.
The Main Event: Powderfinger
Indie power-pop rockers Powderfinger, named after a Neil Young song (still a rubbish name), have been together for over 15 years. The current live line-up are a six-piece who dress like the Killers, but rock like a hurricane.
With teeth-juddering volume and a light show to match, Powderfinger display complete mastery of the live show. Thundering into Waiting for the Sun, the Apollo shakes as the audience match the band decibel for decibel. Though playing to 5,000 people, the band perform as if they are playing to 55,000. Already gone and Love your way send the crowd crackers, and front-man Bernard (even with Sumner and Butler – surely it’s the least rock n’ roll name ever?) shares some vocal similarities to Robert Plant with the song structures reflecting that. Though they have an affinity for The Beatles and have opened for Coldplay, some of their more jaunty pop songs are perhaps a little too saccharine for a typical UK festival crowd, with certain songs not sounding out of place in an American sitcom; or Mission Impossible II perhaps. Dipping into my vast well of amateur psychology, tonight’s audience connect with the band’s music on a cultural level, connecting, perhaps, with memories of friends, family and situations from their native countries. This guess is partially due to Bernard’s response after hearing Sunsets sung back to him. “We’ve toured all over Australia and that’s the loudest thing I’ve ever heard”.
Following a bizarre, yet welcome, drum and Hammond solo, Bernard bonded with his devotees over the demise of ex-Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, and played Black Tears whilst everyone else talked amongst themselves. After easing back into the comfort of These Days with its shiny harmonies and nananas, Bernard instructs the balcony to stand up and picks out a dreadlocked chap in the audience and says “This song was written when dreadlocks were trendy” before launching into My Happiness. Almost immediately, there are people on shoulders and what appears to be an Australian flag being waved around (all the stars were not visible from where I was standing) and people are on phones holding them to the sky. It could almost be Glastonbury. As though it could get no higher, Powderfinger smash what is left of themselves and everyone else in the room with (Baby I've Got You) On My Mind.
Although this is a band I would never personally listen to at home; this was one hell of a performance, and one that will be savoured by fans for some time to come.
Related links:
Powderfinger tickets on Seatwave.
Powderfinger official site.
The Outline's official site.
Tags
Powderfinger, review, The Outline
Comments (3)
James
Nice reveiw. I dont particularly listen to Powderfinger but it was an awesome show and well worth going to.
I just dont know how they haven't 'cracked it' over here!
Posted on December 7, 2007 3:56 PM
James
ALso.......
How bloody skinner and gaunt was Bernard looking.
It was a little off putting to be honest....
Posted on December 7, 2007 3:58 PM
Ash
I suspect it could be due to the shininess of their songs. We don't really have many beaches and sunsets worth writing songs about. Waterloo Sunset's the first one I can think of. We like a bit of grim on this cold, wet island: The Smiths, Keane, The Cure, Coldplay etc...
But then that theory's rubbished by the inexplicable success of Robbie Williams and his mates.
Posted on December 7, 2007 4:04 PM
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