Aussie iconoclasts hit London
The sizable crowd at the Shoreditch’s Cargo hums with a noticeable Antipodean twang, which is not surprising given the current lag between The Drones’ profile in their native Australia and their international recognition. Former recipients of the Australian equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize, The Drones released their debut record in 2001 and are a well known fixture Down Under. Despite some critical praise in the UK of late around current set Havilah we have been slow to appreciate the band which is an undoubted shame. Delivering such an honest yet harsh and energising combination of garage rock, blues and country in an unashamed Aussie package makes The Drones stand out by a mile in today’s drab indie landscape. Taking to the stage at 9:30 the band goes on to deliver ninety minutes of mangled and vital rock n’ roll.
Beginning with a raw ‘Jezebel’ from 2006’s Gala Mill The Drones grab the room by it's synapses and don’t let go. With no video screen or banner to distract the eye all attention is focused on singer, guitarist and main man Gareth Liddiard who writhes and contorts his body between guitar and mic stand in a style reminiscent of Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain. As Liddiard strangles his axe and cranes his neck to sing his vivid lyrics the rest of the band propel The Drones’ sound with ferocious purpose. Bassist Fiona Kitschin and drummer Michael Noga nail the rhythms while guitar player Dan Luscombe adds colour and form to the maelstrom of mutated classic rock. The gig proceeds with some cuts off Havilah with the band sounding like speed freaks auditioning to play Neil Young’s cathartic Tonight’s the Night. High praise indeed. When they drop ‘I Don’t Ever Want To Change’ and ‘The Minotuar’ the crowd go ballistic but it’s just another night of blood, sweat and tears for the band: “Every night is a Tuesday night for the Drones…”
The Drones, with their all or nothing approach and back catalogue of broken and beaten songs, leave the Cargo’s tiny stage after a brief encore having won over another (albeit small) section of gig-goers and delighted their existing rabble of fans. The Drones deserve to graduate from the grind of never-ending Tuesday nights but on this non-descript November Tuesday we were treated to the gig of the year, no contest.