It goes without saying (but we will say it anyway) that you'd be hard-pressed to find a band that had a good time during COVID restrictions and lockdowns.
However, it feels like Melbourne act Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever had a particularly frustrating time of it, with the brakes slammed on for shows following the release of their 2020 record 'Sideways To New Italy', a handful of local postponements as the city slipped in and out of six lockdowns, and momentum seemingly stalling for a band that had unfortunately started to build hype around their live shows.So, in some way, it seemed fitting that the sky above Northcote in Melbourne's inner north opened up fiercely on this Friday night (21 October) right before the band hit the stage to highlight their third album, 2022's 'Endless Rooms', which has had to wait its turn as RBCF caught up on postponed gigs for their 2020 record for much of this year.
Also, somewhat fittingly, it was also the anniversary of the end of the city's last and final lockdown.
But not even the sudden downpour and thunder clapping loudly outside could dampen festivities for the crowd on hand at one of Melbourne's newest large live music rooms, Northcote Theatre.
The heritage-listed site has been revived by former Northcote Social Club co-founder Andrew Mansfield, and for many locals it was their first time inside this stunning 1912-built theatre (also reportedly the State's earliest surviving movie theatre and the first building to get the gift of electricity in the neighbourhood).
With close to a sell-out crowd inside the 1,500-capacity space, there was still ample room to hustle for a decent spot by the time the band hit the stage at 10pm, launching straight into 2018's 'Hope Downs' album opener 'An Air Conditioned Man'.
When it was followed by 2020 highlight 'She's There', it was clear this was not going to be just a 2022 album showcase but a joyous greatest-hits set, something – incredibly – the band can now lay claim to despite about half their catalogue being plagued (ahem) by pandemic restrictions.
The middle of their set featured almost all new material: 'Caught Low', 'Blue Eye Lake', 'My Echo' and standout 'The Way It Shatters’ – which slotted in perfectly and, of course, was already familiar to anyone who'd seen the band seven months ago at the Forum on their many-times-rescheduled hometown show.
While 'Endless Rooms' is an impressive, solid record, as are the two before it, RBCF's real magic is in their live show; the five-piece feature three vocalists and guitarists, which on paper sounds like a logistical nightmare but onstage makes so much sense and is part of the reason why they're one of the country's best acts right now.
Their jangly indie pop/ rock has drawn obvious comparisons to the likes of The Go-Betweens in the past, but it's a lazy reference for anyone who has witnessed them live.
And despite 'Endless Rooms' written in lockdown and 'Sideways…' released during it, and a delicious happy-sad vibe threaded throughout the songwriting, there's ultimately an optimism and effervescence here, in both the band's sound and show, that makes every RBCF gig an absolute celebration.
As they closed with a treat for old fans, 2015's twangy post-punk number 'Clean Slate', smiles were wide throughout the theatre as a contented audience filed out onto a damp High Street.
The band looked pleased, too. After all, this finally felt like a hometown album launch they'd planned for years, and in what better space than Melbourne's best new live music room – in itself a symbol of perseverance and optimism for local music post-COVID.
