![]() The drummer, for instance, receives a quiet but stern telling off for ending Yeah Yeah too early before Newcombe apologises on her behalf for the unexpected tweak to the arrangement. Gone is the violence, thankfully, but the frontman isn’t adverse to shooting dirty glances or reprimanding the playing of his excellent bandmates. The rest just enjoy the band and appreciate that Newcombe’s strive for perfection is sometimes accompanied by non-standard behaviour. Unfortunately, there is a small number of attendees who seem intent on riling the frontman, be it through stealing gifts or shouting Dandy Warhols song titles during quieter parts of BJM’s set. The only difference is that the singer now weathers the tough times in a more collected fashion. This pattern of high expectation being suddenly thwarted by misfortune is sadly not alien to Newcombe and the group. At worst, this stolen voodoo doll has now caused the subject’s wellbeing to be at risk. At best, it’s a kind gesture that has been deprived of its intent through thoughtless behaviour. In a cruel final insult, photos of this Mini-Anton (Tony) have been circulating the internet in Amelie-fashion since its kidnapping. Fast forward 90 minutes and that very doll will be stolen from the backstage area post-show. ![]() Sadly, this happy status will only be temporary. The analogue of Newcombe is carefully placed on top of his amp and oversees the rest of the gig without incident. The Californian-born singer is visibly touched by the gift and, grinning from ear to ear, takes time to read the accompanying card. You’ll find yourself doing it as well.Ī quarter of the way into the band’s 18-song set, a fan hands the singer a perfect Anton Newcomb doll, so highly detailed it’s even wearing the Eat Shit t-shirt. If this reference causes offence to some readers, please “snap out of it” (Moonstruck reference) and observe the moves of the audience the next time you’re at a BJM gig. Perhaps it’s not all that surprising as the psychedelic sound that’s apparent in the DNA of the band would have been witnessed at its inception by the very singer who still believes that there’s life after love. There’s just something in the driving medium-tempo delivery of the band at full tilt that makes people summon their inner-Cher involuntarily. It’s the way she sways side to side which seems to inexplicably work with any genre she’s singing in.) This is in no way to berate the group’s followers or the seemingly ageless pop icon for that matter. By the time the receptive crowd is treated to That Girl Suicide, from 1995’s Spacegirl & Other Favorites, I notice that virtually everyone in attendance (including myself) is dancing like Cher. Scanning the band’s legion of highly dedicated fans, I pick up on a unified trait. In is a white T-Shirt emblazoned with ‘Eat Shit’ on it. Resembling Peter Fonda circa Easy Rider, Newcombe looks well. By the time Newcombe launches into the guitar solo, all the faffing about with amp settings earlier makes sense. It’s a delicate track with a slow build that only BJM can pull off as an opening number. And, some five minutes in, BJM do just that and kick off the proceedings with recently-released We Never Had A Chance. Although he’s often referred to as the just the jester of the band, you can’t deny the fact that he’s a tight percussionist and a captivating presence onstage even when just tweaking his microphone stand before the set starts off in earnest. In the same way that harmonica players in blues bands have an instrument for every key, Gion has a tambourine of every size. When it comes to tambourine playing, this long-standing member doesn’t mess about. Meanwhile, Joel Gion surveys his pile of percussion. To the BJM frontman’s credit, he’s hands-on with his musical equipment. One can safely assume that something has happened to his settings between soundcheck and now. Newcombe, brandishing a smartphone and hunched over one of his many amps, seems frazzled and is being assisted by one of the band’s techs. In fact, the theatre of the band’s preparation is arguably part of the show. Not that the full capacity crowd aren’t cheering their arrival. The septet amble their way to their respective positions to no incidental music or announcement. There’s no pomp and circumstance to BJM’s arrival onstage.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |