“Everybody stares at me… when will it be over?”
There are a lot of daggy things about local opener Sang-Froid, but also plenty of contagions. I danced a little without my permission… “when will it be over?!"
It’s Friday night (13 April) at The Spotted Cow in Toowoomba, at the tail end of Butterfingers’ national ‘Bullet To The Head’ tour. The bass riffs are a bit pop-cute. I mean, he’s wearing a knitted ushanka-type beanie – at least he’s not using a pick.
All three members sing, but legit. When there’s a kerfuffle about set times, your own error made you start even later and you’re told ‘one more song’, it’s the respectful thing to do to shut those mouths after that one song.
To be honest, I was most excited for the next act. I saw Butterfingers at Splendour eons ago, so I figured they’d be just as good now, but this Toowoomba band, Something Something Explosion, is one to watch.
SSE’s bassist, Daimon, told me before the show this set will mostly be new material, but they do rip out their only released track, ‘Dominique’, which copped Triple J play as a newborn in 2016.
Turns out one track’s all you need to support Frenzal Rhomb, Kingswood, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes – okay, not one track, but one explosive frontwoman, cracker tunes and a rhythm section to put you in intensive care.
The flame-haired lass out front with the guitar and Marshall cab, Grace, sips honey in between sweating out delicious grunge riffs save for one song in the middle – her signature solo cover of Slipknot’s ‘Snuff’, wherein she verifies her versatility as a vocalist. I’m kinda speechless.
Just as well Rapaport’s got plenty of words. The Sydney rapper and instrumentalist has a rapid-fire tongue and some great messages: “Don’t sweat it, don’t let it get you down, you’ve only got so long.”
He plays a country-grime number... what? He plays a little riff with no backing on his Fender Stratocaster, then double times it, while rapping. I’m impressed. Tones from Butterfingers hops up on drums: country twang in the riff, two-step beats and rap? I don’t really believe my ears or eyes.
The headliners kick off with the riff from ‘Eye Of The Tiger’. You can start with whatever you like when your band is drums, bass, decks and old mate Evil Eddie on the mic (and sometimes guitar).
After a ten-year hiatus from the studio, their new material has been produced by Trent Reznor. Theirs is excited Aussie hip hop. Where Hilltop Hoods feels cruisy and Allday is the shoegaze version... these guys are totally Oz – more than just the accent, which isn’t even so cringeworthy.
“I don’t know about you guys but I’m ready for a nap and a lasagne topper.”
After hits like ‘Outta The Dirt’ and ‘Everytime’, the little keyboard part starts for ‘I Love Work’; the cleverly orchestrated “ooh”, is diligently carried out by the punters.
The hot-box banter continues: man, you had me at ‘Chiko roll’ (wanting to leave straight for the servo!)
On a health note, with more energy and bounce than a protein ball, Eddie must have great calves. He sure is a showman, keeping it up ‘til the end.
Also, shout out to the bartender that looks like a young Frusciante… appropriate considering some of the lyrics.
