w/ Flap!
To celebrate the release of the much-anticipated new album Steal the Light, The Cat Empire brought their highly acclaimed live experience to the Brisbane Hi-Fi for two sold out shows together with an underage matinee.
Opening the night was Melbourne band Flap!. The quintet boasted some terrific 1920's influenced gypsy-jazz. What I loved about this band was how well they complemented The Cat Empire;
so similar, yet nothing alike. Jess Guille’s uke-banjo (ukelele with a
banjo head) was the only chordal instrument in the band, but with the
virtuosity of the double bass player there was nothing at all missing
from the band texture wise. Their final tune, a song based upon the
Tetris melody, was the coolest thing I've heard in a long time.
Although Steal the Light is only officially released this coming Friday (the 17th) it was so good to see The Cat Empire
go on warm up tour before heading out on the road for the better part 6
months. Tonight was made up both the old and the new, with songs from
their self-titled debut release, as well as tunes that Brisbaneites were
hearing for the first time. Highlights from the newbies were “Wild
Animals” and “Still Young”. The latter is claimed to be their competitor
to set list stable “The Chariot”. I’m not quite sure if it will get
there, however it is a rad song.
Whenever I see the band live, I always get thinking about the
differences between frontmen. Felix Reibl seems to be the lead singer on
many of the singles, yet it is Harry James Angus who has the insane
vocal solos in the live shows. What baffles me more is the fact that
their vocals work so well together! Their vocals are so very, very
different, yet somehow everything still work. I love it.
It is at the point where I have to say “Holy-Fuckballs”. These guys
are true musicians. There are young bands were you can see that the
players are still getting their heads around their instruments, and
there are bands that are filled with musicians that could solo for days
and never repeat the same melodic material. The Cat Empire it filled
with these types of musicians and it is an honour to see them play. In
each of the songs that were played tonight there was some form of solo,
whether that be a vocal solo by Harry, an auxiliary percussion solo from
Harry, a brass trio from the Empire horns and Harry, a piano solo from
Ollie, or a 5+ minute solo from drummer Will Hull-Brown.
For the entirety of the set, which I have to add was over two hours, I
stood in awe and admiration of the musicians I was watching on stage.
They know each other like the back of their hand and this is plainly
obvious in the way that they just let solos continue past the rehearsed
bar allowance. I am ever thankful that this band has been as successful
as they have been. Lord knows they deserve every success. Tonight has
reinforced that I can still call The Cat Empire the best live act I’ve seen. Period.
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