This year’s Harvest festival has been regarded as a celebration of the 90s and whilst some may not appreciate the sentiment, it’s hard to contain the joyful nostalgia of re-living musical memories that became a key part of growing up.
Cake graced our shores with their long awaited and only east coast show in seven years, at Sydney’s Metro theatre.
The alternative rock five piece from California have recently marked two decades in the industry with the release of sixth album Showroom of Compassion, an ode to their endurance and adaptability.
It was hard to believe the gig was not sold out, considering the venue was absolutely packed to the seams. Not only that but the mostly over 18 crowd certainly gave their counterparts a run for their money. The atmosphere was laden with an electrifying energy steeped in good vibes.
The band made their appearance unusually early in the piece, to ear splitting screams. With a smile and nod they launched straight into Willie Nelson’s country ballad “Sad Songs and Waltzes”.
Followed by “Opera Singer”, a brilliant introduction to Cake’s undeniably funky pop rock, studded with the familiar rattlesnake hum of the vibraslap.
Ever the entertainer, frontman John McCrea announced gleefully “we are opening for ourselves, we are playing two sets.” He kept the crowd engaged with his hilariously dry sense of humour, only enhanced by his sarcastic drawl.
Backed by an image of mountainous countryside, “Frank Sinatra” was as smooth and classy as the legend himself. This was where Vince DiFiore’s talent shone, as he brought home Cake’s signature trumpet melodies, and raucous cheers greeted his melodica solo during the song.
“Mexico” with its Mariachi rhythm and beautiful lyrics delivered a spine tingling moment, whilst the atmosphere popped with the vibrant synths and full brass sound of “Long Time”.
McCrea told a tale of how the band had defied their record company by releasing their self-titled album and thanked the “twenty people” who’d bought it.
“Moustache Man”, also from the new album, was dedicated to guitarist Xan McCurdy, who jammed adeptly along with Di Fiore. The tune oozed disco flair, enhanced by the rotating disco ball casting glimmering shapes across the stage. Crowd favourite “Stickshifts and Safetybelts”, a tale of human sexuality and cars, was then spun inciting a vigorous sing-a-long.
McCrea introduced new track “Sick Of You” as “a negative song, not for sensitive people.” He split the crowd into ‘escapists’, people who “when things get terrifying get lost in drugs, video games and shopping experiences;” and angry people, “you’re raging on the road, your head’s ready to explode on the internet.”
What ensued was an entertaining round robin of the song’s chorus, pulled off almost pitch perfect, the crowd’s strong vocals echoing their enthusiasm. McCrea showed his amazement and appreciation “you’re not fucking around tonight!”
After intermission, Cake reappeared with the extremely danceable “Love You Madly” and the melodic “Wheels”. Throughout the show a small sapling (baby tree) sat next to McCrea and the audience’s curiosity was finally sated, when he explained they were giving it away as part of their “Cake Forest” project.
It’s a good thing there was plenty of time, because it took a few go’s before a lucky punter guessed it was a grapefruit tree. He brandished it above his head before bouncing off stage, the leafy foliage floating through the crowd. McCrea joked about angry white males who thought they took up valuable music time with this hippie shit.
The band finished spectacularly with more than a few well-loved tunes, including a really bluesy “Rock n Roll Lifestyle”, “Sheep Go To Heaven” and “Never There”.
The audience’s call and response sounded like a backing track during “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” and was rounded off by a wild finale for “Going The Distance”.
Cake pulled off an absolutely incredible set, made even more enjoyable by the intense passion and enthusiasm of their audience. Whilst not every person there was a die-hard fan, the amount of appreciation exuded by the crowd was astonishing.
The band themselves are seasoned pros and exceeded expectations not only as musicians but as interactive and engaging performers.
These elements really bumped the experience up another level and definitely made the night an unforgettable one. Even though McCrea mentioned he was “not a fan of air travel”, let’s hope it’s not another seven years before Cake is seen around here again.
