Fans of laidback, dreamy, psychedelic, hazy indietronica and surf-art rock piled into Brisbane's The Fortitude Music Hall last Saturday, to farewell Dope Lemon's Australian tour.
The final stop (2 August) on the mostly sold-out six-date run, Dope Lemon are back in touring mode post the release of newest album 'Golden Wolf'; although the set list would only feature four songs from that record, which was slightly disappointing, but there would be plenty of tasty Dope Lemon morsels to feast on throughout the hour-plus concert.
I'm not sure if Brissie sold out, but boy was the crowd bubbling with a boisterous intensity, the bar queues moving slower than a sloth as every man, woman and their cat made sure they appeased their thirst.
There was some questionable crowd behaviour too that had me thinking the animals had taken over the asylum, but maybe I'd been cocooned arriving just before the scheduled start time of 9.30pm – apologies to Pamela for missing their set; I'm told I missed one of the country's emerging stars (next time, promise!).
Despite a slight delay to the start time, a line of dancing cats on the stage's back screen providing adequate entertainment as the crowd plied even more adult beverages into their system (I can't recall having my elbows, shoulders, legs knocked as often at a gig by punters moving pass, their glazy eyes steadfast, in pursuit of more liquid gold).
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
Finally, white strobing lights took over as the house lights dimmed, eerie celestial-like music permeating from the speaker stacks as silhouetted members of the band entered the smoke haze, almost as if they'd dropped from an ethereal plain of existence.
Then Angus appeared, his electric guitar churning riffage, the psych '70s pop frothing with oozing rock, then those darling, if somewhat fuzzy-muzzy vocals began to serenade the crowd and the previous few minutes of waiting dissolved in an instant.
It's not until you hear it live, that you realise 'Stonecutters' is the perfect track to open a Dope Lemon concert. . . it's meandering, old-timey folk, indietronica wafting over the exuberant crowd, soothing those bustling Saturday night feels.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
The stresses of the world melted away, the drumming creating a cut in the vortex, offering escapism further into the languid, lazily brilliant sonic world of Angus Stone and his band of suave, velvety instrumentalists and accompanists.
Fellow 'Honey Bones' track 'How Many Times' followed, the slow-daze, hypnotic swirls of sonic comfort offering a slightly darker vibe, the Britpop post-grunge further adding to the fantastical daydream effect Angus (who manages to find time to gulp from a goblet-looking glass of wine) and band are working on the audience.
Elongated drumming and the electronic soundscape morph into frenzied psych garage rock. It's dank, dark, a little salacious and most definitely groovy. Sultry, mind-bending, folky doom sludge at its finest.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
'John Belushi', from new album 'Golden Wolf', is welcomed by lime green backing lights that fluctuate into blue lights before the first sighting of the acoustic guitar and harmonica, oh and Dope Lemon's ubiquitous dancing cat ladies.
Shimmering cymbals and noodling bass welcome 'Marinade' (almost a sister track to 'John Belushi' released a decade apart), Angus mumbling: "You looking good Brisbane!", before that creamy guitar line induces a crowd sing-sway-along, proper Saturday vibes serenading the room.
It leads into the hypnotically sexy 'Hey You' (probably my favourite Dope Lemon song), and I'm lost in the moment (along with those around me), grooving along thankful to marinate in these feels.
Mid set, Angus introduces a cover of Midlake's 2006 hit 'Roscoe', wafts of that lovely fragrance Mary Jane drifting through the senses as the band play a glorious, alt. country, R&B, soulful AM radio rock rendition, which segues beautifully into the 'Golden Wolf' title track that's followed perfectly by 'Salt & Pepper'.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
The funky space grooves and dirty blues guitar licks of 'Electric Green Lambo' continues the groove-athon before 'Coyote' meanders towards a land of awesomeness.
The main set ends with two of Dope Lemon's biggest hits, 'Rose Pink Cadillac' and 'Uptown Folks' – both tracks receiving tremendous crowd participation especially the latter, the song's continuous build of energy the ideal track to finish the main set.
Although an encore is all but guaranteed at 95 per cent of all concerts these days, the rush of 'drunk' folks headed to the doors is somewhat surprising. . . maybe they need to tend to their garden!?
Those who leave prematurely miss a two-song encore led by the R&B-laced, voodoo-funk, pagan-rock of 'Yamasuki - Yama Yama' off the new album; it's one of those songs best enjoyed in a live setting.
Image © Clea-marie Thorne
The intoxicating pan flute of 'Hounds Tooth' EP track 'Home Soon' is like a siren's call, drawing in the last boogie-shaking of the evening, the vestiges of those tranquil grooves maintaining a velvety hold over the crowd, Angus putting down his guitar for a slow-dance with his cat ladies, before acknowledging the crowd with heartfelt joy before sidling off side of stage, disappearing behind the black curtain.
The band continue to play in his absence, the cats dancing till the completion of the song. . . and just like that, the house lights return and you find yourself in a packed scrum headed for the exits/ loos before being dumped in the maelstrom that is the Fortitude Valley Precinct late on a Saturday night, wondering whether the last hour or so was a purple-smoke-laced dream!
More photos from the concert.
