If you made the mistake ten years ago of not wagging school to see Chris Carraba play a free acoustic gig at Federation Square, you will have had the opportunity for a chance for redemption during the Sidewaves this week. If you walked into the Prince Bandroom and joined the sea of Chuck Taylor’s. skinny jeans, checkered shirts and band tees, the people who remember Emo when it was still related to Brit-pop, when Jimmy Eat World and Weezer ruled the world, you would have made up for that terrible error in judgement.
The indie-emo set is hardly the crowd Prince are used to – the blue flood lights around the room seemed more like a nightclub or a Frankston bus. Still, there were plenty of people in the room right from when Relient K kicked things off, bopping along to tracks like “Be My Escape”, “The One I’m Waiting For” and “Sadie Hawkins Dance”. They weren’t too old, too young or too scene, but perfectly indie. Relient K’s frontman, Matt Thiessen, had plenty of energy and a spectacular fringe.
In the line for the bathroom, girls were overhead gossiping about his relationship with Katy Perry and his dedication of a song (“The Best Thing”) to her during their shows on the Soundwave tour. Relient K’s Christian rock background is barely more than a passing comment, they are a great opening act regardless of any link to celebrity or otherwise.
Jack’s Mannequin took to the stage with much gusto, launching straight into “Where Are You Now?” Then a strong mix of guitar riffs and keys with masculine harmonies and great piano melodies combined to create a song catchy enough to generate a clap-along just two songs in. Some tracks had a slightly eighties hair band feel a la Bon Jovi, with accompanying drum fills and power chords. Still, it was a sold out gig and Jack’s Mannequin generated an amazing energy.
They played old songs and some from the new album including “a song about not being able to get to sleep” and the slightly country-flavoured, “Amy I”. The beautiful piano melody of “I’m Alive”, tells the story of frontman Andrew McMahon’s battle with leukaemia, his range is amazing and is complemented by his dramatic stage presence – it’s never wanky, only endearing. At the closing of the final song, he breaks out in a massive, genuine smile. The ex-Something Corporate front man made sure the whole show was an early-noughties teen’s wet dream.
Within seconds of picking up his guitar, Chris Carraba made hearts happy, simply with strumming the opening chords of “Don’t Wait”, and the unified voices of the room put a huge smile on his face, but the crowd’s were even bigger. He apologised for swearing but commented of the Melbourne crowd: “We were out the back talking… these motherfuckers can actually sing!” Carraba goes on to perform a cover of Corey Branan’s “The Tall Grass”, giving a brief back story along the way. He then launches straight into “Places I Have Come To Fear The Most” which actually manages to quieten the whole room, briefly. Somehow, Carraba has perfected the pretty, broken-hearted, earnestly strummed guitar songs that both men and women are unashamed to sing along to.
Chris Carraba plays a great blend of old and new songs in his set including the consistently heart-breaking, “Screaming Infidelities” – clearly touring Swiss Army Romance for it’s ten year anniversary re-release has refreshed his older repertoire – and the crowd loved it, even though Carraba seemed genuinely surprised and elated that they were so familiar with it. There seems to be a trend at the moment for artists on Sidewaves taking requests – or appearing to, alluding to a set list when commenting “Hands Down” is for the ending – but the way Carraba interacts with the crowd feels so genuine. Maybe it’s the decade or more of touring but the crowd harmonies and requests must keep it interesting for such a seasoned performer. Regarding Belle of The Boulevard, he says, “Man I wish we’d come over here when we released that record, you just sing it so beautifully.” It’s so hard not to fall in love with this man, and he can sure hit a note, showing just exactly what a set of pipes he has developed with Belle’s high notes and then “Get Me Right” as well. Finally giving the audience what they had been crying out for, Carraba finished his seventeen track set with a welcomed drawn out version of “Hands Down from A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar.”
The room was packed from start to finish and without a doubt many faces would have hurt from smiling including those of all the frontmen of the evening. All the acts put on energetic, engaging performances that united and wowed the audience. Any Dashboard Confessional fan would have been gutted to miss the Sidewave that ultimately showed why Chris Carraba’s dedicated Australian fans have waited so many years for his return.
– Ceri Kidby-Salom
