ANU Bar, Canberra
Friday November 2, 2018 :
Exam season currently holds the Australian National University (ANU) in its grip, with destitute students postponing their social engagement until “after exams”. The first show of Lime Cordiale’s “Dirt Cheap” tour had to contend with this mood as they took to the stage at the uni’s temporary music venue. Despite this, they still managed to lift the spirits of those facing their finals with their chill indie rock vibes.
Soundcheck had to start late to keep in line with noise restrictions due to an exam next door, providing an opportunity for the small crowd that had gathered to sit down over a few beers. Local band Neko Pink opened the show, and their synth-pop vibes and duo of Drake covers got people’s curiosity piqued enough to look them up for later listening. ILUKA performed to a swelling crowd, and stole hearts with her effortlessly cool, retro presence and commanding vocals. Her set belonged in a headline tour of her own, and I was stoked to have found yet another great up and coming artist.
Lime Cordiale hit the stage soon after ILUKA’s set and immediately had everyone singing along to their laid-back tune. The brothers exude a certain ’70s classic rock look with haircuts reminiscent of a lovechild of those sported by The Stones and The Beatles, but their sound has more diverse influences than that. The blend of rock, pop and soul which diffuses laid back euphoria when recorded was amplified in their live performance, and made for a really memorable set.
Their current tour is in celebration of their new single, ‘Dirt Cheap’, which was released on the day of the gig. Looking around during the performance it was clear that most people hadn’t had the chance to experience it beforehand, but that didn’t stop us forming a choir during the catchy and immediately infectious chorus. I was hooked on the song from the moment I heard the first chorus. I’ve had it playing on repeat since, but nothing beats the ambiance of the crowd first falling in love with it together.
The trombone is a subtle treat throughout a lot of their recorded songs, and as such Lime Cordiale brought a trombonist with them to their live show and, boy, did it add to the performance. The perky guitar riffs and drumbeats could have held up on their own, but the addition of live brass lifted the gig and made it that bit more special.
ANU Bar isn’t an especially large venue, and the show wasn’t sold out either, but one of my favourite things about intimate crowds is the enthusiasm that seems to infect everyone in the venue. Lime Cordiale’s gig was no different to this, and the wait for the encore chants to start up was basically non-existent, the entire floor vibrating with people stamping their feet. A plea to play ‘Eagle Rock’ from the crowd was heard and laughed off as the boys walked back on stage, but the crowd wasn’t disappointed with the substitutes, the band finishing with one of their latest singles, ‘Following Fools’.
I have been enjoying Lime Cordiale since they were on the Groovin’ the Moo tour earlier this year, but this live performance cemented their place amongst my favourite bands and I can’t wait to follow their new releases and future tours.
Reviewer : Vivienne Wells
Photographer : Sean O’Reilly
[nggallery id = 1080]