The Globe, Brisbane
Thursday September 4, 2014 :
When Brisbane Prog Alt stalwarts, Dead Letter Circus, announced an all acoustic tour a few months ago, it came as surprise to me. Having followed their career from the beginning it was clear and known to many that their tastes and abilities more than encompassed a peeled back sound and style. The real question was how would it translate to their already impressive catalogue of much loved electrifying anthems?
Frankly I wasn’t entirely convinced by the prospect, my hesitations not centred in DLC’s ability nor there songs. Moreover it was the fact that I had seen notably more failures in an attempt to reimagine a good song or songs by great bands than I had winners. There are far more Clone Wars than there are Empire Strikes Back, knowwhatimean?
In retrospect my premise was abundantly flawed.
For while other bands trot out half baked campfire versions (read inebriated) that leave us looking for a wall socket, the men from DLC have left no stone unturned. Their distillation process I am reliably informed embodied a raft of development and arrangement sessions and many more hours nailing it in the rehersal space. To say that the result was worth the wait is a rocking understatement, the performance at Brisbane’s newly revealed new Globe theatre was quite simply next to perfect.
The entire tour sold out weeks ago, as though a premonition of what was to follow. I arrived late courtesey of Queensland roadworks yet in time to receive an inside tip that support act Jordan Leser was on in 5 and not to be missed!
Hand picked by the band Ms Leser has a string of notable supports to her name and its easy to see why. Her songs are written with a bloodletting sweetness that had an expectant audience captivated from the outset. Genuine applause met each number and her rapport with the crowd in such an intimate setting reflected a chord struck. Her willingness to brave insight to a songs inspiration proving irresistable to the crowd who lapped up every word. Certain we will be hearing more from Jordan before long.
Enter the men of the moment, as they collectively ascend the busy stage they are met with warm applause from an already appreciative home crowd, DLC are a favourite in more ways than one and it shows as the band beam back full smiles at the adoring throng snugly gathered before them. A brief hello yields to the opening notes of seminal favourite ‘Space on the Wall’ as a mute cheer eminates from the fans and we are underway. Immediately I am aware of the apparent ease with which the lads are performing. Later I would learn the truth was quite the reverse, only further testimony.
Rolling from one track to the next almost seamlessly whilst engaging the crowd like old friends at a dinner party as they pause between. The sound production remarkable as we sway and sing along to hit upon hit including ‘Wake up’, ‘The Mile’, ‘One step’, ‘Big’, ‘The Veil’, as the list rolls on it’s clear to me (and most present) these songs have been intently ruminated upon.
Somewhere in the middle of the set, Mr Benzie takes the time to address the elephant in the room, which despite consistent jibes is not the unfamiliar presence this evening of a shirt concealing the famed pectorals of outstanding skinsman Luke Williams (impressively debuting a state of the art electronic Roland ensemble) .
Yet rather the unassuming bespectacled chap ripping it up on guitar stage right.. for those in the know he is the sometimes declared 6th member of DLC, Luke Palmer. Most notably credited with a massive contribution (both composition and execution) on the latest DLC LP The Catalyst Fire. Jokes and intro’s aside it was back to an array of DLC staples old and new, all masterfully recrafted as was the theme of the evening. ‘I Am’, ‘Lodestar’ and timeless epic ‘Tremors’ all imbibing something special to an impeccable performance.
As if in recognition of the glowing rapport shared with the group, it was a slightly tentative KB that gave insight to the next and what would prove to be the final performance of the evening. Their initially polarising rendition of 90s power anthem, Rage against the Machine’s, ‘Killing in the Name’. It’s hard to imagine more than a few in the room not having seen or heard the DLC’s JJJ inspired mellow mash up and it showed. As the unmistakable crescendo was unleashed somewhat unexpectedly on a crowd previously unfrenzied by the evening’s polite proceedings many chose to lend their voice as if sensing the bands imminent departure.
Prolonged applause ushered the noticeably gracious band from the stage amidst a sea of high fives, smiles and sweaty congratulations. Suffice to say with the degree of aplomb revealed and the enthusiasm with which it was met I can’t imagine this will be the talented quintet’s final foray into subtler sonic realms, nor should it.
One of the more memorable performances ive witnessed this year.
Reviewer and Photographer: Quenched
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