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Mirrorline + 1QA, Loemax Jive, Sat 21 Jan Although I might feel quite beleaguered four days into this spiteful heatwave, I must tip my proverbial cap to the lads from Mirrorline. Three nights in a row, in forty-plus degree temperatures, these three lads played fierce, loud, gutsy rock to drenched, exhausted yet energised onlookers. They had just passed two nights as the local support to the sold out Mark Of Cain shows - hand-picked, no less, by legendary defence engineer John Scott - where at least for the Friday show I can vouch for their commitment and intensity (they certainly blew the roof off of fellow openers Pharaohs). Then they had to face the prospect of leading the troops for a third, oppressively sweltering evening to launch what seems to be already a quite successful record: their second EP, 'Double Dot'. Up first on the night were close associates Loemax, whose sound and live demeanour have been steadily improving over time. With a sound that echoes 'The Answer To Both Your Questions'-era Something For Kate, this guitar-driven three piece has a lot of promise and, it seems, the ambition to match. While their sound is intriguing, they often lack the punch, the immediacy, to forge a real connection with their audience. Certainly, if you haven't seen them, that's a concern you should be thinking about rectifying. To describe 1QA as "awesome" would be akin to saying the same of an electrical storm; its ferocity matched with unmistakable beauty make it a frightening delight to behold. Never before have I seen a band so meticulously random, taking melodies and rhythms from thin air and combining them in a melting pot of talent and insanity. Revelling in their post-punk origins, these Melbournian ex-Kiwis were truly special, and would have to have been a highlight for everybody. The fact that their truly punk rock finale, all microphone-destroying crowd violence and screaming viciousness, might (so I hear) have caused their frontman to enter into convulsions coming off-stage, only adds to the incredulity of their performance. Next time they come to Adelaide: be there. Unbelievably, the young crowd were even more voracious as Mirrorline entered stage left. And the stage is where they're at their best. Playing much the same, well-rehearsed set as the Mark Of Cain shows, these guys displayed dedication, a real sense of self, and an impressive professionalism that makes them already near the top of their game. The three tracks from the new EP were extremely well-received, as were some old favourites. Notably, they've added a cover of the Hot Snakes' LAX to their set (well, they had to learn a new cover: their patented version of Helmet's Turned Out may have been inappropriate while sharing a stage with John Stanier for two nights), which might perhaps precipitate an even more inventive direction into which they could head. Indie rock is not dead; it's lying in the shadows, refining itself, sharpening its edges and waiting to strike. When it awakes, you can bet Mirrorline will be at the front line, all guns blazing. Only time will tell where they might take us.  |
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