LIVE: BUZZCOCKS with MODERN ENGLISH – Fremantle, 27 Oct 2024
LIVE: BUZZCOCKS with MODERN ENGLISH – Fremantle, 27 Oct 2024
Metropolis Fremantle, Western Australia
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
I’d imagine Steve Diggle furious after tonight’s gig. He’s just bounced around enthusiastically giving his all to carry the Buzzcocks flame for an hour and a half, little knowing that the sound for the crowd was only great if you liked listening to a band with mud stuffed in your ears.
Support act Modern English didn’t suffer as badly from the detrimental mix and came off the more enjoyable act on the night, their somewhat serious and angular post-punk on record sounding far more approachable in person on this, their first ever visit to our shores.
Featuring mostly original members the band’s sound was rich and warm, and frontman Robbie Grey appeared in a playful and jovial mood, exhorting the room to get involved moving and singing, thumbing his nose at crowd members, and grabbing a spare drumstick to bash a cymbal or two.
A couple of new tracks from the 1234 album released early this year slotted into the set nicely, especially Not My Leader, and closer I Melt With You sounds every bit as vital as it ever did.
Diggle and his troupe have just come off an extensive US tour where they’ve played for some big crowds, so the half full Metropolis Freo on a Monday night probably feels like a step down to them.
The near-founding member was determined to carry the band forward after the death of mainman Pete Shelley in 2019, but he’s shouldering a lot of weight all by himself and didn’t pull it off tonight.
As mentioned, the problem was mostly the sound, Diggle’s vocals almost indecipherable in a murky mix favouring the drums and his guitar. Second guitarist Mani Perazzoli’s instrument was reduced to the sound of a wheezing bumblebee, barely present at all, and whilst Diggle was energetic, he let the songs do the talking rather than show any real personal charisma.
It’s a sadly wasted opportunity, many of the songs only recognisable if you were familiar with the riffs – What Do I Get?, Senses Out Of Control, Autonomy, Why Can’t I Touch It?, Orgasm Addict, et al, and even the classic Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) in the encore saw half the crowd standing still rather than joining in.
Let’s hope they return soon and play a venue where they get the sound they deserve.
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Category: Live Reviews