LIVE: SPIDERBAIT with ABBE MAY, ZERODENT – Perth, 14 Sep 2024

LIVE: SPIDERBAIT with ABBE MAY, ZERODENT – Perth, 14 Sep 2024
The Astor Theatre, Perth
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
Photography by Caris Bingemann

It’s night one of two for Spiderbait at Perth’s exquisite Astor Theatre, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of possibly their biggest album, Tonight Alright – the one which spawned their hit cover of the 1930’s (or earlier) negro folk song Black Betty. The success of their version of the track (primarily based on Ram Jam’s 1977 rock reworking) probably rivalled all of their other work combined, since the single rose to the top 40 of the US rock charts and was featured in multiple movies.

First up Zerodent deliver a punchy and punky warmup set which earmark them as a band to keep an eye on, frontman Lee Jenkins’ energy undeniable. We’re off to find a copy of their recent Human Races album, stat.

Nobody could accuse Abbe May of being stuck in a rut. She came to prominence out front of stoner rockers The Fuzz, delivered a couple of great heavy blues albums, embraced electronica and has hit many points in between during her outstanding career. With a new album on the horizon – Big Pu$$y Energy – tonight she’s firmly in the indie blues zone with Sonic Youth noisenik edges.

She’s a singular entity, no doubt about it, dancing to the beat of her own drum as she and her band run through the likes of T.R.O.U.B.L.E., Karmageddon and Ginuwine’s Ride My Pony (which she laughs they “forgot to rehearse”, not that you’d know it, and barely restraining her amusement on the suggestive choruses), with a dark, sexy voodoo vibe turned up high.

May tells us she is “semi-retired,” but we really hope that won’t stick, as she’s sounding fantastic, bringing an undeniable intensity to these favourites and – finding herself with an unexpected three extra minutes left in her set – finishing with a song from her Rockin’ Pneumonia days, A Blackout In Your Town, delivered solo in full trance-like voodoo blues mode.

When the lights go back down, red flourescents illuminate the stage and Ennio Morricone’s Il Vizio D’uccidere plays: it’s time for Finley, New South Wales’ favourite guitar slingin’ hombres and mujer to take the stage – but something’s not right… Damien Whitty is sitting down. Janet English takes her place not to stage right but behind the drums. Kram’s out front of stage. What’s going on? We’re treated to an acoustic version of Black Betty, Kram’s vocals filling the room and the sellout crowd singing along in full voice from the very start.

This trio of old schoolfriends assume their normal positions next and what follows is a show of epic proportions, leaving the crowd sweaty, hoarse and very, very happy.

There are lesser known tracks such as Straight To The Sun and Chest Hair; Janet’s mellifluous vocals on Outta My Head, Cows, Tonite (singing this one for the first time ever, apparently), the classic Fucken’ Awesome, and Calypso; early faves Jesus, Monty, Old Man Sam and Sam Gribbles; and so much more.

Their beloved cover of The Goodies’ Run makes a welcome appearance, as does the fun Footy, and it’s worth noting that few bands ever have managed to capture such a captivating mix of brilliantly heavy songs and brutally catchy and pretty melodies – often in the same song.

By The Time I Get To Howlong is a tribute to growing up in a small town, delivered mostly acoustic with Janet playing harmonica; Fucken’ Awesome is just that, many people sporting the new t-shirt design and everyone singing along – from the kids chaperoned by their parents to the oldies reliving their glory days.

Buy Me A Pony – the first Aussie song to top Triple J’s Hottest 100 back when Triple J was not just good, but essential – remains the perfect skewering of the fickleness of record labels, and it and Calypso are fitting closers for the main set.

Janet takes the lead for a cover of Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades before an extended – and very ‘eavy – second run through Black Betty, which couldn’t be more different from the first one.

They go alright, this mob, and make a glorious fucking racket for three people. All we need now is a shower to wash off the sweat and a lemon and honey tea to soothe the strained throat.

SET LIST:
Black Betty (acoustic)
Straight To The Sun
Outta My Head
Shazam!
Jesus
Monty
Chest Hair
Hot Water & Milk
Cows
Tonite
By the Time I Get to Howlong (acoustic)
Glockenpop (acoustic)
Fucken Awesome
Old Man Sam
In This City
Sam Gribbles
Run
Scenester
Footy
Fucken Ace
Buy Me a Pony
Calypso

Encore:
Ace of Spades
Black Betty

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries