Float On @ The Hi-Fi Bar, 06.02.11

The trauma I inflicted on my body at St. Jerome’s Laneway on Friday almost tempted me to forgo my tickets to Float On, a local benefit for those affected by the recent floods. Despite my ears being destroyed by the likes of Ariel Pink and my feet feeling something akin to concrete blocks, I sucked it up and moseyed on down to the Hi-Fi to catch what, on paper, was something of a 90s Brisbane music revival.

The Hi-Fi Bar was donating all funds raised, including the bar takings, as proceeds to flood victims. Even the staff have given their time. Moreover, despite a spate of flood-related fundraisers of late (which the cynic in me thinks is a great way to market one’s gig) Float On has the bragging rights of having the most high profile line-up including a good douse of legendary Brisbane rock groups such as Screamfeeder, Custard and Regurgitator. It’s Livid 1998 all over again.

Arriving just as Screamfeeder begin, my previous reluctance evaporates by the time the opening chords of ‘Hi Cs’ comes around. Despite their odd appearance, Kellie Lloyd, Tim Steward and Dean Shwereb don’t seem to play that often together. But you wouldn’t notice considering the fact that their performance tonight is nothing short of perfect, assisted by the incredible Hi-Fi sound system, a welcome respite for my ears considering the sound issues that plagued Laneway on Friday.

Screamfeeder are followed by local upstarts Hungry Kids Of Hungary. I’m not a huge fan, but there’s no denying that their songs are catchy, even if they’re occasionally derivative. Regardless, they know how to work a crowd and it’s like someone unleashed a biological weapon infected with impromptu footstamping and handclapping. They play all their popular songs, including ‘Scattered Diamonds’ and ‘Wristwatch’ and my day suddenly feels a lot brighter.

Kate Miller-Heidke is up next. While I’ve heard the odd song on the radio, I’ve never seen her play. Operatic versions of ‘Pyscho Killer’? Nah, no thanks. However, after watching what was for me, the best set of the night, clearly I’ve proven that the sceptic who previously resided in my body minutes before the diminutive platinum blonde singer begins ‘Space They Cannot Touch’ was a fucking moron. I don’t know the songs, but they’re all played with such sheer aptitude by Kate and her band that I cannot help but feel overawed. A great cover song combining the guitar riff of AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’ and Eminem’s ‘The Real Slim Shady’ in addition to a song concerning the nexus of failed relationships and social networking means this performance is difficult to surpass.

However, Custard come mighty close. I get the feeling that many people have come to see Custard alone. That’s why I’m here. They hardly play at all anymore despite Dave McCormack having the odd gig at Rics or The Zoo and playing some of their songs. This is the first time that the band have played since the Queensland festival in 2009 (I believe), and nostalgia is a great money-spinner. They play a rollicking set of classic Custard songs, including ‘Alone’, ‘Apartment’, and ‘(I feel Like) Ringo’. Guitarist Matt Strong plays the lead bit in ‘Pack Yr Suitcases’ with a half-consumed Corona and Dave often pauses mid-song to chat to the crowd and say this and that. He dedicates a number of songs to random suburbs of western Brisbane. It’s obviously that everyone is feeling extremely warm and fuzzy. (I’d like to say “fuck you” to the over-the-hill dread-locked guy who decided to barge through the crowd during ‘Hit Song’.) The conclusion features ‘Girls Like That’ and the intense ‘Caboolture Speed Lab’ . Awww, I miss you already.

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This entry was posted on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at 2:54 pm. It is filed under Brisbane, Live Reviews and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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