There are certain things I truly enjoy. These are live music and photography, but more specifically Aussie music that comes with a generous helping of nostalgia on the side.
Miami Marketta has given the Gold Coast a massive serving of Aussie rock in 2024 with a gig schedule that appears to be inspired by the Australian acts appearing in the triple j Hottest 100 from late '90s.We had Spiderbait, Regurgitator, Ben Lee, The Super Jesus, Hoodoo Gurus, Screamfeeder, Jebediah, Magic Dirt and The Cat Empire to name a few. There was still time to squeeze in some more rock legends before the year was out.
Friday night (20 December) would see Custard and The Fauves visiting this unique venue as we get a taste of the Open The Curtains tour. Punters were starting to fill the venue. There was a certain cartoon dog adorning some of their shirts. Would the secret identity of Dave McCormack be revealed?
The Stress of Leisure had the arduous task of drawing the punters away from the Marketta's food trucks and into Studio 56. Ian Powne (guitar/ vocals) is a thorn between the roses, being joined by the 'femme-attack' of Pascalle Burton (key/ synth), Jane Elliott (bass) and Jessica Moore (drums).
The Stress Of Leisure - image © Radical Imaging Photography
The band proclaim in their bio of being 'the band you can't believe you've never heard of' in the Australian music scene. This appeared to be the case as the Gold Coast crowd slowly filter in, beckoned by sounds of a band described as 'post-punk and irreverent as hell'.
The set gave us a taste of the new album, 'It Goes Away With The Heat' with the title track and tales of international politics with 'Dead Man Golfing'. My interest was piqued by the reference to a very specific occupation as we are told of the 'Unhappy Wedding Photographer'.
The band would submit their entry into the (totally unofficial and fictitious) 'longest song title' competition for the night. Their contribution 'Man Who Makes a Racist Comment' would give the other band a score to beat of six words.
The Fauves were the next band to take the stage. The four piece has been a part of the Aussie music scene for decades with the melodic pop-rock that uses satirical and evocative lyrics to explore Australian themes.
We see the familiar line-up with Andrew Cox (vocals/ guitar) out front with Phil Leanard (guitar/ vocals), Terry Cleaver (Bass) and Adam Newey on the drums. We would get a taste of their new album 'Tropical Strength' as well as tracks from 'Thousand Yard Stare', 'Footage Missing' and 'Future Spa' as they deliver their own unique spin on the Aussie rock formula.
The new song 'Guitar Village' gives us a feel for the lyrics we have come to expect from The Fauves as we hear that they were 'close to getting away with it, you could tell that she didn't give a sh.t'.
Their entry in the night's 'long song title' competition would be a song about generosity in bird distribution. With six words their entry would be 'Tell Someone Who Gives a Duck(?)'. (Or maybe I wrote it down wrong!)
The set would end with a subtle introduction to the lead singer of Custard and his animated alter-ego. We would be told how "dogs are the best people" as the crowd cheered the end of an awesome set.
The Fauves - image © Radical Imaging Photography
I have been a huge fan of Dave McCormack and his band for decades now. At one stage I had two goldfish with names inspired by the band. One was named Wahooti Fandango and the other Wisenheimer.
It was a big surprise to find that my young niece would cherish the autograph of this Aussie rock legend. In 2021 we were wandering around Gold Coast Supanova and found Dave sitting at a table with 'Bluey' signage. It ends up this multitalented artist is also the voice of Bandit who is father of the cartoon dog Bluey. This fact was not lost on a few of the audience members who proudly wore their shirts that displayed various blue cartoon dogs.
The stage was adorned with the words 'McCormack, Medew, Strong & Thompson' as the band takes the stage, which does help immensely from a review point of view. Dave McCormack is on guitar and lead vocals, Paul Medew on bass, Matthew Strong on guitar and Glenn Thompson on drums.
Custard - image © Radical Imaging Photography
The new album from Custard is called 'Suburban Curtains'. It has a familiar feel as Custard get 'Funky Again' and tell us tales from Far North Queensland to Melbourne. The new songs blend seamlessly with classics. We are promised "tales of the intimate, the awkward, and the everyday," and we get it in droves.
We were treated to about 20 songs in a very entertaining set filled with crowd participation ("more cowbells") and so much banter from the Bandit with the microphone.
A Custard gig is a unique experience that keeps the audience guessing. There are random moments of appreciation for silence, Dave goes for a wander to distribute maracas to a random audience member, one lucky punter is on cowbell duties, Thompson straps on a guitar and takes over the vocals for a few songs, various people (Dave and Jessica Moore) take their turn on the drums, along with other hijinks you need to experience in person.
Custard - image © Radical Imaging Photography
Some audience members were expecting Dave to re-appear onstage in a big blue dog suit, but I think that may have been wishful thinking on their behalf.
The journey through the decades of material would have them tell tales of girls, suitcases, lucky stars, ordinary music, painting, Melbourne, molecules, a guy called Lez and even a speed lab in Caboolture.
A track from 'Loverama' would have Custard take the victory for the night's long song title competition with a cautionary tale that 'Girls Like That (Don't Go For Guys Like Us)' coming in at nine words long.
Custard - image © Radical Imaging Photography
The show wraps up with an epic look at four classic albums. We are treated to 'Alone' from 'Wahooti Fandango', 'Anatomically Correct' from 'We Have The Technology', 'Apartment' from 'Wisenheimer', and the crowd sing out "R.I.N.G.O" (from 'Loverama') as we farewell Custard and thank them for visiting the Gold Coast.
More photos from the concert.
