Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Thursday April 11, 2013 :
Entering the Cambridge, I was so full of hope. The windows to the front bar were open and music spilled out onto Hunter Street. Former members of The Screaming Jets mingled among an attentive audience supporting the “End of the Road Tour”, a Hunter TAFE end of term gig. There was so much reason for optimism.
A little late, after taking in some of the TAFE students’ originals, I entered the back bar expecting a similar scene. However, as I walked through the door I found myself surrounded by too cool electro hipsters and the languid self-important. On stage, bravely battling the sounds of silence, was Lancelot. Armed with a bass, a MacBook and a Moog, Lancelot fought valiantly against the beast known as punter apathy, but sadly, he was no match.
Next to fight the good fight was stalwart Sydney duo, Polographia. Their weapons of choice included live drums with the now familiar MacBook, and miscellaneous sampling devices. The addition of drums might give some cause for optimism, but this reviewer has seen it far too many times before. Yes, Polographia were able to coax a few weaker willed revellers to briefly turn their heads toward the stage and perhaps even coax a head bob or two before necks nearly broke spinning back to feigning interest in the no doubt enthralling conversation. Undaunted, they spun through their set of electronic chillwave, aptly described by the band as “misery in a major key”. Despite their best, they too were slayed.
Finally, it was time for a hero to enter. It was clear what this crowd had been waiting for. The terrace emptied, the dance floor filled, the energy shifted, finally a worthy opponent, Triple J electro dance darlings RÜFÜS.
Generally cautious of a genre defined by use of computer programs and, often, precious little actual live performance, it was nice to see RÜFÜS ditched the laptop and added live guitar, keyboard, drums and even harmonica to the myriad of sampling/dj apparatus. They had an energy unfamiliar to the electro dance scene, an energy that was clear to see in the faces (and feet) of the indulgent listeners. Perhaps still finding their persona on stage, crowd interaction was not a forte of this young trio. Front man and vocalist Tyrone Linqvist was more than aloof enough to collect an adoring crowd following, but the rest of us may have wondered the names of the tune that was to be played next (not one was announced). Unfortunately for those curious, the lyrics were no help. Linqvist’s falsetto vocals, while melodic and at times haunting, might as well have been in, well, Finnish. That said, it seems the unintelligible vocals are the rage in the indie electro scene these days, and Linqvist could give Canada’s Grimes a run for her money.
In a night where many fought, and many fell, it was RÜFÜS who played hero. But these days in the music scene, isn’t that always how the story ends?
Reviewer: Thomas Reid
Photographer: Jessica Ward
[nggallery id=52]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKa6nkmqHFQ