“Nahn-tays?” Nantees? “Naaants?” “Nuhnt?”
Mispronunciations aplenty hummed around Brunswick’s The Workers Club, as people slowly sidled in to await the Sydney-siders, who have adopted the obscure French geographical reference as their own.
Having hit the road with Northeast Party House and Millions on their recent Triple Treat tour, Nantes are making a habit of playing shows with some seriously excellent bands. The quality of the supports on this occasion was no different – the gig could easily have been mistaken for another triple-headliner.
Them Swoops kicked off the night, unperturbed by the meager crowd of twelve or so people who had decided against fashionable tardiness. Providing catchy, feel-good indie-pop, “Work Around It” and “Take Your Time” were clear highlights.
Next up, guitar-heavy five-piece Dirt Farmer took to the stage, showcasing their collection of understated rock and roll. Driven by Stu Barlow’s distinct croon, enjoyable hints of surf-pop seeped through “Kick It”, and beautifully tuned harmonies underscored “Johnny Marble”.
As a small black backdrop sporting Nantes’ white-lined diamond logo was draped across the back wall of the stage, the latecomers finally packed into the wood-paneled walls of the Workers just in time to hear the opening melody of “Charlie”.
Having eased the crowd into the set by playing the popular tune, lead singer and bass player David Rogers exclaimed “It’s nice to see so many people at our gig, which doesn’t usually happen!”
The four lads followed on with “Out of Control”, with Rogers accidentally, but aptly, sending a pint of beer sprawling across the carpeted stage as he thrashed out on the bass guitar. Once the song had ended, Rogers casually proceeded to pick up the pint and swig the last remnants from the bottom of the glass; proving there’s definitely an unrefined yet modest kind of cool about Nantes.
Rogers’ deep voice continued to fill the dim band-room as the set wore on, the sounds emanating from the instruments building into noisy crescendos. As a young band coming through the ranks, live shows provide the perfect platform for the group to experiment with new material, and Rogers urged the crowd to “just feel it out”.
Showcasing a darker set of songs than those which have received generous radio airplay, including current single “Unsatisfy”, the vocals were balanced perfectly against sharp electronic drum kit introductions, and complimented by Reece Turbin’s “Prestige 15” keyboard skills, as proclaimed by Rogers.
As the singer invited the fairly subdued crowd to move closer towards the stage, a line of bright-eyed young girls oblige, and the four-piece bookend their set with their infectious single “Fly”, sending the girls in the front twisting and turning as the whole band room sways. Once the song wraps up, Roger’s proclaims “We’re Nantes”, confirming that pesky articulation.
Just for the record, it’s “Narnts”, and you best get used to pronouncing it.
– Liz Margaronis
