The Melbourne Zoo lawn was a sea of picnic rugs, folding chairs, and small children as Dick Diver took to the stage. The revered local band warmed up the crowd with light-hearted political satire, odes to the band members’ mothers, and their instantly recognisable ‘dolewave’ setlist.
The introduction of saxophone and trumpet to their live sound has really tightened the Melbourne act’s set. The occasional cacophonic, jangly guitars and endearingly ill-tuned vocals, mixed with a rehearsed horn section, has developed songs like ‘Lime Green Shirt’ into even more danceable, fun numbers.
Predictably closing with perennial favourite ‘Head Back’ had the older audience members tapping their feet whilst their children danced. Spirits were high and there were smiles all round as picnic dinners finished up and the main show edged closer.
Acutely aware of her all-ages audience, Neko Case greeted her fans with a simple, “Hi guys! Hi animals!” before launching into ‘This Tornado Loves You’. Her distinct half-southern-twang accent accompanied by a tight band was mesmerising, and it became clear that it was going to be a pleasurable evening.
The sound was as close to perfect as an outdoor gig gets. Case’s brash vocals were the centrepiece of the show, enabling her poetic lyricism to be truly appreciated. Drummer Dan Hunt’s crisp snare subtly cut through the band as seated multi-instrumentalist (and long time member) Jon Rauhouse dictated the dynamics of the group.
Case’s ability to engage the audience on a musical level was awe-inspiring. Her setlist balanced rock songs like ‘City Swans’ with beautifully harmonic ballads. These ballads were the most memorable aspect of the show, as ‘Calling Cards’ and ‘Night Still Comes’ were met with rapturous yet reflective applause. Breaking down ‘Something To Remember’ to a near whisper before exploding into her jaw-dropping vocal range was the night’s highlight.
Renowned for guesting on comedy podcasts Comedy Bang Bang and The Nerdist, Case’s offbeat humour between songs was well received. Accomplished back-up singer Kelly Hogan and Case bounced off one another as they switched from emotionally intense folk songs to bright banter. Admitting that her latest album’s lengthy title The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You was to, “prove that I’m a dick” demonstrated Case’s self-awareness and fear of being tagged pretentious; such humility was welcomed by the Australian audience.
The light-heartedness was briefly challenged by professionalism prior to the first encore song, ‘Maybe Sparrow’. Clearly a perfectionist, Case’s acoustic guitar was stubbornly difficult to tune. Never losing her cool, she quipped that it will be the “most in-tune guitar ever” to the increasingly adoring crowd.
Despite being “boldlessly jet-lagged”, Case and her band played a near faultless 70-minute show. Her class shone through during recent single ‘Man’ as she omitted the climactic ‘f-word’ on the line, “I’m the man in the f_______ moon,” before thanking all of the “tiny dancers” for adding to her experience.
From the start of the show, at the darkest part of the dusk, Case held the audience’s attention. By nightfall, they were enamoured of her and the unforgettable performance.
