Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineDecember 06, 2019gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, review, Sarah Rix, The Forum, Temper Trap, The Temper Trap, Djirri Djirri, Conditions, Lazy Eyes, The Lazy Eyes

The Temper Trap + Djirri Djirri + The Lazy Eyes @ The Forum 04-12-19

Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineDecember 06, 2019gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, review, Sarah Rix, The Forum, Temper Trap, The Temper Trap, Djirri Djirri, Conditions, Lazy Eyes, The Lazy Eyes

photos + words: Sarah Rix (@sarahrix)

Review

“… capping off a celebratory moment for everyone involved.”

It’s been 10 years since The Temper Trap releases their ‘Conditions’ debut. To mark the anniversary, the Melbourne band booked in a special Australian tour - playing the album in its entirety and kicking it off in their hometown, with dates in Sydney and Brisbane (x2) to follow.

The Lazy Eyes started Wednesday’s show at the Forum with an easy, four-guys-that-like-to-jam vibe. By their third song, leas vocalist had already assured the crowd that it would be the last of their keyboard numbers — they’d soon bring out the guitars instead. They sent off the seated tinkling with “Cheesy Love Song”, a number that began slow. The Flaming Lips melancholia eventual gave way to a psychedelic instrumental wash out: a continuing theme for The Lazy Eyes’ 40-minute opening slot.

The four-piece followed up with the promised guitars: their wah-wah pedals making it sound like they belonged to the soundtrack off an intergalactic spaghetti western. “Tangerine”, meanwhile, was certainly King Gizzard-esque. The wailing guitar solos are all indicative of where Australian music’s been headed over the last little while — an interesting, conscious counterpart to a 10-year anniversary tour

“We just got merch today. Head over there and buy it,” their guitarist said before their last number — one that required crowd participation as the band dropped things down, both physically and musically.

But back to their encouragement of people to buy merch: “No one’s going to do that. It’s 40 bucks,” they finished, with a laugh. We’ll circle back in 10 years, Lazy Eyes. That’ll probably be a bargain.

Next on stage: Djirri Djirri. If you were expecting a band, you would end up being pleasantly surprised.

Introduced by bassist Johnny Aherne from The Temper Trap, the crowd was treated to a performance from members of the Wurundjeri community. A traditional ceremony was accompanied by a vocal performance in Woiwurrung – a language that hasn’t been spoken in two generations. It was a respectful nod – and a nice touch from The Temper Trap – to shine a spotlight on the Traditional Custodians of Melbourne.

The night’s main attraction meant business. The playing of Conditions from front-to-back seemed as much a novelty for the members of The Temper Trap as it did for the crowd – the four-piece quick to share smiles amongst themselves and the sold out audience at The Forum.

It’s an incredible album, to be clear. It’s the type you probably had on repeat in the early aughts. It’s a testament to its staying power, too, that even if it’s been collecting dust for the last few years, there’s a good chance you probably still know the words to the 10 songs that make up the album.

“We haven’t played this song since… 2006,” laughed vocalist Dougy Mandagi as he introduced second song “Rest”.

Between songs, the band – Mandagi, Aherne, keyboard/guitarist Joseph Greer, and drummer Toby Dundas – seemed to almost need a moment to compose themselves and to soak it all in. They also took plenty of opportunity to thank the crowd for showing up and for being fans of the album that changed their lives.

“Sweet Disposition”, the one that started it all, saw the band bring out original guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto, too – joining them to mark the special occasion. The song is still a banger, possessing that sort of urgent, upbeat swell that’s evocative and relatable. Over the years, Mandagi’s voice has retained the distinctive lilt and it was put on full display over the course of their 10-song tribute.

“Soldier On”, Mandagi would go on to explain, was the demo that brought Arctic Monkeys producer Jim Abbiss to them. Starting off slowly, with a croon, the song broke into its bridge of “Will you take me tonight?”, delivered with all the emotion and drama as if it were fresh ink on paper.

“Fader” was another big one, while “Science of Fear” took the crowd on a darker turn before the instrumental flourish of “Drum Song” kicked in – water poured on a drum for dramatic effect, flashing me back to the last time I saw The Temper Trap: October 2009 at the Horseshoe Tavern (side note: I just googled “Temper Trap Horseshoe Tavern” and was reminded I have a Flickr account.)

The band ended with five songs of deep cuts, b-sides and unreleased songs (including “My Sun” and “People Like Us” featuring big, anthemic guitars) – capping off a celebratory moment for everyone involved. It was The Temper Trap’s first time playing Conditions front-to-back – an incredible album that catapulted the band into the popular music sphere and sent them around the world.

Listening to artists like Gang of Youths, Kingswood, and Holy Holy now, it’s clear The Temper Trap set a precedent for what could be accomplished from a little band down under. That’s something certainly worth celebrating.