Augie March
Forum Theatre
October 9, 2008
After One Crowded Hour topped last year’s Hottest 100 chart amid a spate of awards, Augie March’s status in Australia was catapulted above all expectations. The band’s hometown performance at the Forum on Thursday night was testament to this as fans packed the theatre’s grand halls for a special Live at the Wireless session for Triple J.
They were a little bit of everything, the crowd – some were clearly drawn by the novelty of give-away tickets, while others were eager for a sneak-peak at the upcoming fourth album, Watch me Disappear.
As the band launched into the set, it became clear they were under-practiced – front man Glenn Richards confirmed it had been six months since their last show. But the rawness of the material didn’t detract from the gig.
The album’s title track, Watch Me Disappear, began threateningly, building quickly towards a chorus that bordered on stadium rock. Pennywhistle‘s playful instrumentals made you smile, conjuring images of the Australian landscape, while The Slant overflowed with sorrow, underlined by Richards’ aching vocals.
Farmer’s Son reminds you of the plight of young farmers in today’s drought stricken rural areas and City of Rescue, with its fast paced a-little-bit-country snare brushing, makes you forget again. Most of the songs were themed around life in Australia, and Richards’ voice really gelled them into something special. It was a strong, poetic mix of rock, country and folk.
Richards and drummer David Williams were captivating in the sometimes lengthy changeovers between songs, whilst guest guitarist Dan Kelly tried his hardest to stay out of the limelight. The charming on stage banter made you feel as if you were watching a few mates roll off some tunes at your local.
As the band led the audience through the new album, the overall impression was cohesion. This is a release without an obvious hit, but it speaks with meaning and will deservedly be enjoyed by many more now that One Crowded Hour has brought broad attention to Richards’ skillful song writing.
It was a chilled out show, without excessive showmanship. No one really let loose, needing rather to focus getting the music right. It was also lot less polished than their studio work. A couple of false starts and a retake perhaps wasn’t the best way to show off the new album, but the crowd enjoyed what was on offer and mirrored the relaxed attitude of the band from the comfort of the theatre’s seating.
