Tonight saw the first performance in Melbourne in fifteen years from Sydney four piece The Clouds. Lead by guitarist Jodi Phillis and bassist Trish Young, who share vocals between them, The Clouds were one of a handful of great Australian power pop bands that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These included bands such as Tall, Tales & True, The Hummingbirds, The Whippersnappers and Falling Joys. The band split in 1996. Tonight was one of their first shows together in many years.
Their performance this evening was at times quite loose and a little rusty. Indeed, at times, Phillis and Young couldn’t quite hit the heights they once did vocally. However, the strength of the material and the quality of the music that made them a such a vital act many years ago still shone through tonight, along with the gorgeous harmonies that Phillis and Young shared in their songs.
High points were hearing songs like ‘Hieronymous’, ‘Say It’ and ‘Soul Eater’ again for the first time in many years. There was a great deal of appreciation from the crowd towards the band; it was obvious that The Clouds reminded them of a certain time and place in their lives.
Next on the bill were Birmingham’s The Wonder Stuff. Celebrating 25 years as a band, the five piece proceeded to charm and cajole the crowd. Fromtman Miles Hunt is still a livewire on stage, with his passionate playing, great voice and cheeky grin. Their music very much displays the influence of the part of the United Kingdom that they are from, known as ‘the Black Country’; predominately a mix of Celtic influences, the blues and country music.
While well played, their music at times started to sound a bit sameish and repetitive. However, the band truly found their feet once they started playing their more pop influenced material, such as ‘The Size Of A Cow’ and “Don’t Let Me Down Gently”. The band’s set definitely put everyone in a positive mood for the headlining act this evening, Jesus Jones.
Fronted by the eternally youthful Mike Edwards, this evening looking like the cool older brother of Franz Ferdinand lead singer Alex Kapranos, the band proceded to rip through an hour long set, highlighting some of their best material since the band formed in 1988. Jesus Jones, along with bands such as Pop Will Eat Itself and EMF, were at the forefront of mixing genres such as rock, hip hop and electronica together to create something altogether different from familiar material.
The band were in great form this evening, very tight and together. To their credit, the music sounded more oganic on the live front, and less technology based than it did on record. Fortunately, the music didn’t sound dated, as so much from that period can due to the technological advances since the band were in their prime.
Song highlights included a storming version of ‘Info Freako’, the classic ‘International Bright Young Thing’ and, of course, what has become their signature tune, ‘Right Here Right Now’, which was met with a rapturous applause from the audience.
A fun triple bill of early nineties nostalgia.
– Neil Evans
