Gig Watch: Augie March: Christmas Show

By Fionnuala Sharkey

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Towards the end of Augie March’s first Christmas show at the Hifi, the band urged the crowd to come again the following night. “Seriously. We’re not selling out.”

Were it not for the numerous other band Christmas shows and family Christmas functions to attend, I would have been there.

Augie March put on a terrific show that was not only a treat for their long-term devotees but also introduced new fans to a collection of old works. They seemed to enjoy taking a ‘musical journey’ back to their earlier works, all the while assuring the crowd to “think of yourselves as very lucky.”

Their set list included tracks from their debut album "Sunset Studies", including Maroondah Reservoir and Asleep in Perfection, with swirling, dreamscape lighting making the latter feel all the more fantastical. The gig more particularly featured songs from 2002’s "Strange Bird". The sinister, carny-flavoured There's Something at the Bottom of the Black Pool was a standout.

Lead singer Glenn Richards claimed to be suffering from the flu (Oh, come on! You’d be flat on your back if you had a flu! It’s only a bad cold!!), however, to his credit, any illness was barely apparent. The lead singer showed off an affecting range during the encore with an acoustic rendition of "Strange Bird"’s This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers (accompanied only by manic keyboardist Keirnan Box on harmonica).

I tell ya, folks: the spine was definitely a-tingling. However, it has to be said that fans may have been disappointed that the rest of the band did not parade back onstage halfway through and bring the usually upbeat track to a thigh-slapping, hootenanny conclusion!

The Hifi was a good setting for the show… though I have to admit that I was a little perplexed by some of the recorded music between acts, including Follow Me (Uncle Kracker - you do not have permission to “tuck me in at night”). The venue was noticeably spacious (though by no means empty), indicating that sales had indeed been slow. But a little space can be an advantage on the dance floor (not to mention at the bar) and the audience was generally friendly and relaxed. However, the silly season does on occasion produce some rather… we’ll say uncouth behaviour…

Early in the evening as I chilled to the very appropriate support sets – the mellow Laura Imbruglia and the very smooth, self-indulgent and dark The Devastations – I couldn’t avoid overhearing conversational fertiliser coming from a beautifully dressed Ja'mie Louise King on speed. Speaking to a date (or a lucky pick-up?) she claimed to be “like, a behavioural psychologist – seriously” who worked with poor sick children “seriously!”.

You know the type – glossy hair and grating voice – “seriously!” During the main act she contained herself rather well until, as the band launched into another "Strange Bird" favourite, she let fly with sudden, manic outbursts: “We hate you!” “F*#@ off!” … and then (strangely enough) “Woohoo!”

The band seemed rather puzzled. The audience was rather puzzled. Although lead singer Richards’ is renowned for losing his patience on stage, he tolerated this disturbance relatively well, initially trying to deflect the audience’s attention and eventually joking about the persistent unwelcome interruptions.

Her motive later became clear with this desperate plea: “Play One Crowded Hour! Please!!” Let’s face it, we’ve all gone to see bands we hardly know for the sake of one song. But there aren’t many people who go to gigs for one song and, when kept waiting, try to take the band down. At this point in the show I’m sure I wasn’t alone in wishing that, just to spite her, they would refuse to play the song (which Richards himself cringingly described as the song they “most hate.”) But, of course, when they closed with the Triple J Hottest 100 chart-topper, the crowd were enthralled.

This Christmas show was definitely a fan’s show. When the village idiot kicked up a fuss, the audience was well and truly shocked. She wasn’t just knocking the band – she was trying to ruin Christmas for everyone!

An unexpectedly nostalgic set list – not to mention a degree of comedic tension between drummer David Williams and the rest of the band gave this show a friendly edge. More than anything the show highlighted the whimsical and poetic nature of Richards’ song writing style.

A Christmas show to remember.

Augie March soldiered on despite a "flu" and some seriously annoying "fans"

Overall: 80%

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