RIDE, MERCURY REV
WEDNESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2024
THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE
WORDS BY LINDSAY THOMPSON
PHOTOS BY CHRIS SEARLES
“This time around I think we found the place from before”
The opening line of 'Last Frontier', Track two from RIDE’s new album Interplay, perfectly expresses what was witnessed on Wednesday evening. While a gloomy, rainy Brisbane, the neighbouring Ekka chaos and a midweek time slot may have contributed to a smaller than usual crowd, nothing was going to stop a sense of communion.
The iconic Brisbane live music venue, The Tivoli, is a reliable companion for the eclectic crowd. UK legends, RIDE, and US masters, Mercury Rev, are here for what will become a transcendent night. The crowd is a lively mix of older couples, parents and progeny, new fans, friends reliving the ‘glory years’ and loyal followers of each band. T-shirts have been dusted off and donned, often finding themselves in a precarious situation after not being worn for three decades.
Mercury Rev, the psychedelic rock masters with the touch of baroque, kick the night off with ‘The Funny Bird’. From the opening piano tinkle, the crowd is absorbed into the sweeping layers of melody and gently bob their heads in agreement. The stage is smothered with purple and gold lights. A regal wash to match the soaring, commanding notes of singer, Jonathon Donahue.
Deserter’s Songs, 1998’s acclaimed album, fills a majority of the set. ‘Holes’ brings a swirling tapestry of dream state crescendos, while ‘Opus 40’ begs for love and ‘Endlessly’ haunts with its soaring shrill (a musical saw). Directing the band with the energy of a philharmonic conductor, Donahue and songwriting partner, Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak, glide the audience through galaxies of sound. ‘The Dark Is Rising’ from 2001’s All is Dream, closes out an entrancing set. In front of me, a young adult son puts his arm around his Dad’s shoulders and pulls him close. This must have been the song Dad played in the car, unaware the kids were locking it away as ‘Dad’s song’. It’s a beautiful moment to remind us that this music touches the deepest parts of our being and remains ageless.
Mercury Rev - all photos by Chris Searles [click to scroll]
Drinks are grabbed and floor positions quickly reclaimed. Attention turns to any slight movement on the blue back lit stage. An eager punter tells me he is a new fan. He’s never seen RIDE and has travelled from Rockhampton, approximately 641km north of Brisbane, for the gig. His all time favourite gig is David Bowie in 2004. This is a man with taste, and he has covered 641km to see RIDE - a testament to the far-reaching music of one of Oxford’s finest.
The UK indie icons enter the stage - bassist Steve Queralt first, quickly followed by drummer ‘Loz’ Colbert, then guitarist/vocalists Andy Bell and Mark Gardener. Launching into new single ‘Monaco’, it’s quickly apparent the melodic DNA that RIDE is built on has not waned. While the iconic flowing locks that adorned early 90’s NME covers may have gone, Gardener is as enigmatic as ever.
While new tracks soar with classic RIDE harmonies, keyboards and fuzzed guitar, it’s clear they’ve been built in a different setting. Gardener has explained that the new album is their first genuine ‘all-in’ album. Songwriting ideas coming from all members - hence its name, Interplay. Bands can struggle to have new songs accepted by faithful fans, but not RIDE. ‘I Came To See The Wreck’, ‘Portland Rocks’, ‘Last Frontier’ and the instant crowd favourite ‘Peace Sign’, are lapped up by the audience. ‘Kill Switch’ from 2019’s ‘This Is Not A Safe Place’, crunches the audience with Loz’s pistol-shot snares and Andy’s crunching guitars.
Old favourites stand shoulder-to-shoulder with deep cuts, induce cheers and smiles from the fans that ‘just know’. ‘Cool Your Boots’, ‘Taste’, ‘Vapour Trail’ and ‘Leave Them All Behind’ and the closing ‘Chelsea Girl’ are delivered with the same vigour seen in the legendary Brixton Academy concert from 1992. I’m certain some of the resurrected t-shirts immediately felt at home.
This is songwriting and performance at its best. Every punter, old and new, arrived expecting their own version of RIDE and Mercury Rev. They received so much more. Tonight saw two much-loved bands playing iconic tracks on a simple stage, feeding a seismic wash of melodic layering to a captured audience. If you were lucky enough to be there, congratulations on sharing a communion of pure aural power.
I think we just found the place from before.
RIDE - all photos by Chris Searles [click to scroll]
Comments