10.30, CMJ Week Day 1: the Drones @ Pianos
Up next after Division Day was Melbourne Australia's blues-garage masters The Drones. I've had The Drones' amazing "Here Come the Lies" and "Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By" albums for a while now and was looking forward to seeingthe free experimental energy of the music live. These guys are the descendants of a long tradition of high-quality no-bullshit Melbourne rock bands like Bored! (I'm pretty up on the newer down-under rock but I got schooled on the classics by some friendly Aussies before the set) so the intensity level was appropriately on ten as the band burned through classics like "Shark Fin Blues" and newer tunes like "I Don't Ever Want to Change". Unfortunately there were a few prolonged pauses due to various technical difficulties that dulled the impact & momentum of the performance somewhat but it gave the band time for some amusing banter including what may be the quote of the week "Yeah we played South by Southwest and now this. We're tired of playing these crazy showcases over here because well... They don't work!"
However once singer/guitarist Gareth Libbard & company got going again it was clear something was working as the power of the awesome attack had the packed room hooting & stomping for more. The blistering dual guitar shredding of Libbard & Rui Pereira over Michael Noga (Drums) and Fiona Kitschin (Bass) rumbling rhythms built steadily towards a raging finale. After the set Rui took a nasty bonk on the head from a low-hanging PA speaker as he was leaving the stage but looked ok after reorienting himself for a bit. The Drones are not to be missed for any lovers of garage or harder-hitting indie.Watch & Listen:
The Drones - "Sharkfin Blues (live)"
The Drones are also playing this week:
November 3 @ the Mercury Lounge
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