Band: Root! with support from Lightning Dead and Austin Floyd
Venue: Northcote Social Club
Date: 6th february 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Live music is vehicle to bring people together and Melbourne’s most unsexy band Root! bring a certain type together, whether it be the boot scooting variety, the poets, the unethical, the bogans and those who want a bloody good laugh.
The Northcote Social Club tonight takes on board Root! including two support acts. First off the base is Lightning Dead, who begin with guitar and drum which builds up with bass and electric guitar. Deep strong vocals and an impressive voice are what first hits you, then that great rock/indie alternative sound. Lyrics are story like and most songs build up their sound before they truly rock out. Their song Out Of Control has a slight twang to it whilst other songs sound almost punk like. Bit country, bit old school and a slight sound of New Order at times.
Austin Floyd are up next, a Melbourne country rock of the grunt variety band, which fits into the pub scene as though they are part of the furniture with a manner like Ian Rilen, that has that jive, boot scooting feel. They are a very fitting support band for tonight’s main act to follow. Murray Floyd is on vocals and rhythm guitar and sports a cowboy hat, pouting lips and an oozing raw gravel voice. To support Murray is Justin Rudge on lead guitar and backing vocals, Chris Pain on double bass and Roman Ceder on drums. The song Haven’t had a Woman since Johnny Cash died includes harmonica and the solid crowd thoroughly bakes in the song and then with the words "wham bam thank you mam, that is the end of the show"! how can we not agree that this band puts on a great rocking performance and the punters certainly know how to have a good time to them.
Curtains that were closed are now open and out come the band of the night, Root! All wearing hats and they head straight into a new song Groove from their new album titled Root is the money of all Evil, a talking style of song which is quickly backed up by their hit single Get Up Yourself with its great harmonies and a rap in the middle of it, this is a great song for the crowd to get into. Another newie titled Famous is more a cabaret and melodic song which was wonderfully sung and had sing-talking throughout which is what DC Root is renowned for. I Hang Out with the Guy’s in Jet (‘s Uncle) brought to the stage a striking presence that the crowd lapped up, all members zooming around the stage with utter delight and comfortableness. Henri, Barnaby, Doug Lee and Steve Root all bring a wealth of passion and zest to stage and complement DC Root’s style. The song Emo took on the darker beats which were taken upside down and around about with some happy undercurrents. This is one hell of a song full of rhyme. Next up was a treat - keyboard start then a poem recited by DC entitled Fuck I’m Dead with lines like “been waiting 25 years for a MCG membership but fuck, I’m dead”, and this erupted laughter from the near sold out crowd. Dark keys envelope the start of the next song which is a melancholy tune called Crown, about the casino, and sung in the tune of Hokey Pokey.
Uncle Vom Vom shows the strong vocals from DC and I still call Australia “HO” has great lyrical content (and DC wears an Arab style of hat). The band are very interactive with the audience and it’s something I feel the punters need. One comes to a Root! show knowing it’s going to be a fun evening with humorous lyrics and a singer who engages with his audience. The crowd tickler with wild guitar riffs I wish I was Tex Perkins has many punters singing and perhaps many agreeing “he eats roots and leaves”. A broken snare plagues the band but not for long before the band launches into Back to Mine then Orange (“don’t drink carrot juice”). Encore arrives but naturally the band comes back. Shazza and Michelle is the next treat with the hilarious bogan tune to make any bogan’s cringe. The night is finished with Pauline Hanson says there are Christian Muslims too and DC finds his way to the bar (then tells us this perhaps wasn’t the best thing as now he has a wet bum)!
Do I think the band is slightly funny? No I think the band is much more than slightly funny and everyone should know this is a country rock lyrical rap band worth exploring.
www.fasterlouder.com.au
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