Goodby Motel and Armen Firman

Band: Goodbye Motel and Armen Firman
Venue: The Public Bar
Date: November 18 2007
Reviewed By: Adam Sharp

The pendulum of musical dominance has traditionally swung between the UK and America. Individual cities have taken their turn fronting their countries’ periods of ascendancy within the alternative music realm; Liverpool, Detroit, Manchester, Seattle, London and New York all being considered the place where all other bands look to for inspiration at one time or another. Recently Canada, and specifically Montreal, has emerged as an additional player in this tug of war, spearheaded by Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade and The Stills. Scandinavia is also proving to be a hotbed of groundbreaking bands of late, from Denmark’s Mew and Kissaway Trail to Norway’s Poor Rich Ones and Sweden’s Shout Out Louds. Melbourne may well be the next major contender to the throne and tonight’s two acts may well be at the forefront of such an uprising.

First on in the tiny Public Bar is the ever-growing in stature Armen Firman. The five piece clearly just love being on stage and their presence on it is becoming more assured with each of their high octane sets. The Kashmir influenced Long Lost Cause with its rampageous snare drumming, anthemic choruses and soaring riffs has never sounded better. Crowd favourite Porch Dweller bounces by with a delightful insouciance on the back of a meandering bass line and gently cascading guitars.

Though headliners Goodbye Motel have been together for less than two years, half of its members have played together for over a decade. This shows in their cohesion and highly developed understanding of dynamics, showcased impeccably by the insistent surge of All That Bad or the expansive sweep of Hell Out Of Here.

Goodbye Motel’s sound successfully melds the sprawling Northern Soul era The Verve with the accessible musicality of Death Cab For Cutie and the wistful atmospherics of Swedish band Kent. Their influences are tightly woven together with their own innovative thread to create a mesmeric blanket of sound. They demonstrate how far they have taken this sound with Sooner Or Later which begins when a mournful piano coalesces with a distant sounding, tribal drum march and hushed, treated vocals; the track then builds majestically before ultimately taking off.

It would not be too bold a statement to say Goodbye Motel and Armen Firman are two of the finest indie rock bands currently plying their trade in Australia. So if you want Melbourne to triumph in the almighty global tussle for supremacy check them both out at once. Your country needs you!