I was forced into flashbacks as Albert Hammond Jr. entered the Mammoth Mane Stage last night, clad in his white jeans, white t-shirt, white Fender.
I could clearly picture a younger Albert in a white suit-jacket in front of thousands at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, almost a decade ago.
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Back then, he was at the height of his God-like-guitarist status. He was in one of the biggest bands to be born in the new millennium: The Strokes. Fast forward to now and an older, wiser Albert physically looks like he is in the prime of his life.
Image © Zoe RussellHe is now four, solo albums deep and gracing some of the smallest venues in Australia with his pop-driven, metronomic signature of contemporary rock.
It was clear, from song one, that an Albert Hammond Jr. show is him as frontman, not guitarist. His band included two incredibly polished guitarists, who mimicked his style perfectly, and cleanly compressed drums – hit so sweetly – that they disco-beated me into continuous dancing.
Image © Zoe RussellAlbert was able to really perform for the crowd and engage with his lyrics. Although he of course added flourishes of rhythm and lead, he used his guitar as more of a prop to fling over his shoulder or cradle lovingly while singing.
Image © Zoe RussellThe audience really engaged with the new album tracks: the soaring chorus of ‘Loosing Touch’ was a highlight, as was the unabashedly funky ‘Power Hungry’, which was even sexier with that deep, live bass.
The infectiously happy debut single ‘Born Slippy’ got the crowd going, but seemed to lose some of its intricacies in the mix. ‘Momentary Masters’ is a testament to the longevity of the style of rock that Albert, as part of The Strokes, pioneered.
Image © Zoe RussellIt was fantastic to experience his music in such an intimate venue, and I can only hazard-a-guess that he likes playing smaller shows, or that not enough people born after 1998 know his name, nor his legacy.
Please return soon Albert, and remember to add ‘Lisa’ to your setlist.
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