While some folk enjoy their live music with a spoon full of sugar, Lawrence English’s sets both dare and defy the sonic norms, oft to an unpredictable end. Ever humble, this was one of the less sonically diverse performances I’ve seen of the local electronics juggler who rarely seems to repeat himself. The punters are here for dirty rock, and English’s oh-so subtle transitions are a little sparse, engulfed in the royal-size gallery that is the Tivoli.

An $8 drink later and a chirpy Ed Kuepper eases into a sixty minute barrage of songs that featured a solid wall of complex guitar tones and no unnecessary repetition. What surprised me was the currency and authenticity of the stripped back duo, who’s meandering guitar-scapes conjure everything from J. Hendrix to J. Mascis, all the while retaining a distinct individuality. The interplay between Ed and Drummer Jeffrey Wegener came in fierce doses of competitive rhythm and sparse melancholy, fuelled by equal parts of venue atmosphere and hard liquor. The warm grins from the stage on finishing were mirrored from the floor in the lingering applause. The excited murmur left over was exemplary to his undefinable contribution to the lives of many in the crowd.

The Dirty Three tunes seem to adorn more feature films than radio airways, so the iconic Tivoli proved a fitting venue for such an occasion. Expectations for this statuesque Melbournian mainstay were subsequently intensified by Kuepper’s epic sound excursions and English’s digital manipulations. Armed with a mandolin, violin and keys, furry and funny front man Warren Ellis added ethnic subtleties while stoking an electrified brew of tonal dissonance and complex groove. If rock n’ roll’s past is on vinyl, then rock n’ roll’s future is on DVD and The Dirty Three have a head start in that department. Opening with Flutter, The Dirty Three seemed to evoke their music rather than play it. Showcasing their new release Cinder, the Touch and Go exports are a band bigger than any album; they are an evolution. Darwin would have loved it.

Review by James Stafford

Copyright: the owner.