LIVE: THE STEMS – Fremantle, 6 Sep 2024

LIVE: THE STEMS – Fremantle, 6 Sep 2024
With The Rinehearts and Vancool, Freo Social, Fremantle, Western Australia
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
Photography by Linda Dunjey

The Stems could have been the biggest band ever to come out of Western Australia, but the fates chose otherwise. They were only initially together for a few years, but in that time they burnt brightly and became legends. Thankfully, we have enjoyed the great pleasure of seeing them on and off over the years since they first reformed in 1997, which was a decade after they first imploded. It’s unlikely we’ve seen them in such great form as tonight, at least since we were considerably less grey and much lighter on our feet.

Vancool opened the show, making the most of the opportunity despite the Curse of the Opening Act – only a few handfuls of punters scattered around the room to start, though more filed in as their set went on. Frontman Dion Mariani (nephew of Stems main man Dom) welcomed us to his “family reunion” and – with just a few nerves playing in front of so many relatives – was the assured and confident frontman we’ve come to expect of him, while the rest of the band were a little more timid. More stage time can only bring them out of their shell, but they’ve already got a swagbag of cool tunes with a garage pop meets Britpop lean. Brand new single Where I Wanna Be even boasts something of a disco beat and high danceability, and they dedicate closing Oasis cover Headshrinker to “everyone who didn’t get a ticket” to the Gallagher’s reunion shows.

The Rinehearts also seem a little nervous supporting their heroes but it only shows in frontman’s Benny J Ward’s Dad joke intros, allowing their jangly power pop and mellifluous harmonies to take the lead. Having just released their lovely cover of The Falling Joys’ You’re In A Mess Ward realises they don’t actually recall how to play it since they recorded it, so instead they move through an engaging set of catchy A.F. singles – Could You Would You, You Want It You Got It, Powerlines, finishing with I Don’t Mind.

Local heroes The Stems’ return is not only an excuse for a myriad of Mariani’s to congregate, but also a celebration of one of Fremantle’s own done good. Consequently, the sardine-wedged full house are jumping and singing and cheering from the first note.

Spotlights strafe the crowd as Mariani leads the charge, OG Stems Julian Matthews and Dave Shaw joined in recent years by Ashley Naylor, and the outfit are smokin’ and as tight as a Bear Grylls knot after a hugely successful lap around the country.

Nobody articulates a meaningful declaration of undying love better than Dom Mariani, and For Always is one of his greatest, a perfect romantic pop song. Drummer Shaw’s Surround Me is another crowd pleaser, and Move Me, from their debut album At First Sight, Violets Are Blue, boasts a beefy proto-neanderthal riff.

New single Falling From The Sky introduces a sprinkle of acid tinged psych to the mix, and it sounds like Dom’s recent few years with heavy boogie merchants Datura4 have ushered in a raunchier tone to The Stems sound. It’s still power-poptastic, of course, just with the heft turned up a notch.

Mariani dedicates Tears Me In Two to the late Richard Lane, who was such an integral part of the original band, and Naylor sings his part. It’s a touching moment, testament to how much Lane is missed. There’s a primal drum breakdown in the irresistible Mr Misery, Naylor handles the vocals again for MC5 cover Shakin’ Street, before She Sees Everything and 1985 debut single Make You Mine are simply wonderful, the latter extended to include a wedge of Baby, Please Don’t Go, AC/DC style.

At First Sight opens the encore, and it stands tall with For Always as a perfect slice of love writ as a rock and roll song. Paul Revere & the Raiders classic Stepping Stone leads into Love Will Grow and the show finishes with The Stems tearing up Day Tripper as though they were always born to do so.

Rest assured we – and everyone present tonight – will be front and centre the next time they decide to get the band back together again.

Set List – Vancool:

See to Believe
Let You Down
Blue Jeans
Small & Stupid
Where I Wanna Be
Better Tonight
Standing In The Light Of The Room
Headshrinker

Set List – The Rinehearts:

Goodness
Blue Jeans
Call Me Up
Coming True
Could You Would You
You Want It You Got It
Powerlines
I Don’t Mind

Set List – The Stems:

Leave You Way Behind
Just Ain’t Enough
For Always
Surround Me
Move Me
Falling From The Sky
Get To Know Me
Tears Me In Two
Mr Misery
Never Be Friends
Shakin’ Street
She Sees Everything
Make You Mine/Baby Please Don’t Go

At First Sight
Stepping Stone
Love Will Grow
Day Tripper

 

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries