Melbourne post-punks Cable Ties are one of Australian music’s exciting new acts.
The sold-out sign on The Bearded Lady’s door (in Brisbane) for their debut album’s launch (1 July) is a sure sign of how beloved they’ve become. The crowd’s excitement was matched by the band being in Brisbane, which bassist Nick Brown declared: “The birthplace of punk and don’t let anyone tell you any fucking different!”
Rather than spending their time hidden away, the band could be found moshing in front of the stage during the sets of the support acts the lads taking in all that Brisbane had to offer. Opening were Brisbane veterans The Stress Of Leisure who all wore Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Can shirts, matching their pop-art attire with some colourful art-rock.
The band jerked through their angular tunes, with singer/ guitarist Ian Powne’s snotty vocals giving attitude to songs titled ‘I Want The Internet’ and ‘Aim High, Get High’. The Stress Of Leisure may be older, but their sense of fun has only grown with them.
Next was local rock two-piece Marville. Their set was dark and grimey thanks to Ash Kerley’s riffing – from swampy blues-rock to psychedelia – and drummer Doug Palmer battering the songs until they were bruised. The mood lightened when Ash led the crowd through a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for the girl on the sound desk, but quickly went back into rock mode by tearing through a cover of Sonic Youth’s ‘100%’, not even stopping to drink her beer mid-solo.
Before playing, Cable Ties vocalist Jenny McKechnie acknowledged the traditional owners of the land. Jenny then let out a feedback-drenched wail from her guitar, with her bandmates joining her.
The band delivered an intense set of fiery post-punk. Songs like ‘The Producer’ pushed and pulled the crowd to drummer Shauna Boyle’s danceable beat and Nick’s throbbing bass. The two provided a solid rhythm for Jenny to lay her sonic attacks over, showing a spikiness artists like Wire and Siouxsie Sioux would be proud of.
Jenny is a powerful presence, with her voice transforming from a snarl to a shriek in a single song. She dares her enemies on ‘Cut Me Down’, screams through the speeding ‘Can’t Hold My Hand’ and howls until her voice is raw during the ten-minute ‘Paradise’.
Her blistering speech in ‘Say What You Mean’ attacking inhumane corporations hit home for the crowd, who reciprocated with a loud applause. Cable Ties finished with the spoken-word ‘Wasted Time’, afterwards showing genuine appreciation to their fans.
The crowd deserve praise for their behaviour; being respectful to the band and each other, even helping one fan navigate his way around in his wheelchair.
Cable Ties’ music is the kind to lose control to, but their love for music and their fans make them extra special.
