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Live reviews with Lyndon Blue
Lyndon & Grizzly Bear at the fly
GRIZZLY BEAR @ FLY BY NIGHT, FRIDAY JANUARY 8
Baloo, Yogi, Humphrey, Smokey, Pooh, Paddington. History smiles upon its deserving bears and casts the rest into merciless oblivion. In 2004, a chocolate-brown snout poked its way through the crackle-hiss of a dewy folk brume. Six years later, the robust but ghostly figure of the GRIZZLY BEAR ambles into a converted aeroplane hangar and, in one swift movement, convinces any skeptics in Fremantle Forest that its position amidst those select few is assured.
WASHINGTON is one locale where you might find the aforementioned snuggly beast hanging out, but it’s also the stage-name of Megan Washington, who ushers in the multitude as it dribbles through double-doors. Sat at a splendid Nord keyboard (altered to read ‘Nerd,’ perhaps to complement her faux-spectacles), Washington begins – on an impulse I pronounce “hey, it’s Sarah Blasko” – a gentleman to my rear exclaims “hey, it’s Regina Spektor” – the midpoint there between makes not a bad descriptor, though Kate Miller-Heidke also springs to mind. Or perhaps, the less annoying, indie-chic step-sister of Missy Higgins. In any case, between tales of lady-gorilla romance, sauntering piano, a winning voice and a Rufus Wainwright cover, Washington’s set is a consistently pleasant affair – though she needn’t be
so ludicrously attractive. Good musicians ought always to be a little bit ugly, lest one get too distracted.
I push forward to ensure a front-row view of the bear enclosure. They emerge into a bramble of instruments; woodwind, guitars, percussion and gadgets littered the stage. In a faded flurry of saw-dust and half-lit window panes a gust of wind takes to Grizzly Bear’s sails, and it’s ‘Southern Point,’ ploughing forth with all the bright-eyed fervour of an explorer’s barque - their sensitive nuances, extreme dynamic range and songwriting prowess already proven in but one song. Next, the taut ‘Cheerleeder’ and the hauntingly crystalline ‘Lullabye’ – in which bassist Chris Taylor’s staggering talent is resplendently revealed. He loops moth-flicker flute into breeze-blown tapestries and, approaching the track’s climax, delivers an obsese bassline not on string-and-wood but instead, deeply modulated clarinet. From
glimmering clouds rain gems plucked from ‘Yellow House’ and ‘Veckatimest’ albums – with ‘Deep Blue Sea’ and encore ‘C’mon’ being the two exceptions; the triumphant single ‘Two Weeks’ of course goes off fire-cracker bonfire mountain-top (“ah-aah ah-aah ah-aaaah!”) to rapturous reception.
If Grizzly Bear let the honeypot drop, it’s only when they attempt to rework already-perfect tracks; the usually delicate yet robust ‘Little Brother’ (this reviewer’s personal favourite) and the spectral ‘Colorado’ demoted from heavenly arrangements to what might be forgettable Veckatimest b-sides. Yet for the overwhelming bulk, the ‘Bear’s orchestration is sublime – “orchestration” not used flippantly; their sound is truly symphonic, drummer Chris Bear offering the deft intricacies of a classical percussionist, their immaculate four-part harmonies suggestive of sacred chorales. Not since ‘Pet Sounds,’ dare I say it, has smooth pop been so ornate, so majestically textured, both tiny and vast… it’s like Maurice Ravel swallowed a lovelorn folk singer and nibbled on Animal Collective for dessert. I
see on the ground before me a shimmering silver pool; yes, that’s my face, melted clean off by the loveliness of it all. If history forgets this bear, history’s a silly twat. Even Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood considers them the best band in the world; and while I’d not be so audacious as to suggest he’s right… he’s certainly not wrong. |
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Steady Eye with Tahlia Palmer
Trams up Beaufort Street
I'm back from Melbourne for a month or so and I don’t drive, so I’ve had to rely on public transport since I got back. Public transport and a lot of walking. And you know what? For all its over-crowded-and-often-late faults, I really really really miss Melbourne’s public transport system. And this is mainly because trams are awesome.
Perth used to have a tram system, and this fact is pretty widely known by most sand gropers. The once plentiful tram lines, the ones that helped to create the inner city suburbs we know and love, like Mt Lawley for example, were discarded due to a need for speed. The people of Perth had a burning desire to drive HEAPS AND HEAPS of cars as soon as the petrol rationing of the Second World War was over, and as such, trams were deemed totally useless by the mid 50’s.
It also didn’t help that the trams themselves were more than 20’s years old. We all know how into progress and “improvement” Perthites can be (as is evidenced here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129206433137
), and with the war shortages, those trams were looking pretty tatty. No one likes an ugly old thing, except when those ugly old things vote NO on daylight savings (THINK OF THE FARMERS!), so without much thought for future city expansion, or the potential of fuel costs rising, most of the tram lines were pulled up. Except, of course, for those spots deemed most touristy.
Melbourne has the most expansive tram system in Australia, and also the world. That’s pretty sweet huh? Very forward thinking of them, not to give it up when the car boom happened, and they now embrace it as part of their culture, and everyone who lives in Melbourne loves their city because they are looked after and treated with respect by the people who run everything.
A tram system in Perth could be great. With all these rad new things opening up on Williams St in Northbridge, it would be so much more convenient to jump on a tram that winds through to Mt Lawley than to walk the strip in the hot Perth sun this summer. A tram to Fremantle, which is far less intimidating than the train. A tram through Leederville, then Mt Hawthorn, which goes all the way to Scarborough. Imagine that! People would use that shit. People would love that shit. (It’s so easy to dodge the fares!)
But the chances of that ever happening are slim to none, because Perth councils don’t seem to appreciate the plight of people who would prefer not to drive. There is no respect for anyone under 25. “Socially and environmentally conscious? Romantic in left wing idealism? Bit of an artfag? SHUDDUP AND GIIIIT OUUUUT.” And this attitude has all but ruined Perth for all the creative people residing in it. Old people would most definitely use trams. What about that huh huh? Such a fucking lack of forsight. STATE GOVENERNMENT FAIL. No wonder there is such a massive sense of apathy among people here. We’ve been raised in an environment that devotes itself to the mainstream, and actively breaks down any sense of culture that might be created that isn’t directly related to the tourist industry.
But despite all of that, there are a number of motivated people dedicated to making this city work to their favour. Perth has seen a massive rise in practical uses for the creativity that thrives in this town in the last 12 months or more. If trams were still operating in Perth, it would easier to spread all that interesting shit past that one street in Northbridge, and help connect the city and the people in it a lot more. But no one thought of that, because cars were fun and new and trams were old and clunky. Morons.
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