There is great anticipation leading up to this gig for two reasons: it is a chance to see one of Australia’s most loved rock bands, and Melburnians have been impatiently wondering what the new and improved Croxton will be like.
How would they turn a dodgy pokies venue into a cool live music venue for the north? Well, they did it! Upon entering, it feels like the Hi Fi Bar or the Corner Hotel. There are bars on either side of the room. The best part of all is that it is huge! No need to be rubbing shoulders with the person next to you or dancing in the one spot – there is room to move around.
Canadian band The Bahamas are playing and the sound is perfect – crystal clear and the right volume. Their songs combine a mixture of country, folk and rock and they provide a great introduction to the night.
As the crowd waits for You Am I to come on to the stage, people can be overheard singing songs like Berlin Chair and discussing their favourite You Am I albums. It’s a reminder that this is a band with so many dedicated fans, and people who have been listening to them for at least 20 years. Anticipation is high, and so are expectations.
The band plays a great set of new and old songs, and while they are billed to only play for an hour, this extends to 90 minutes. Tim Rogers is dressed in one of his signature outfits – a baby blue coat with tails and a tie. He is humorous and playful throughout the set, making jokes with the audience and even singling someone out when they call out “play your old songs!” The lecture digresses to something about being in bed with your girlfriend and gets plenty of laughs from the crowd.
It is great to hear old favourites like Berlin Chair and Mr Milk, and judging by the audience participation in these songs, this is what people came to hear.
But there appears to be an issue with the sound. While Bahamas sounded just right, You Am I are loud and scratchy, and the sound is not clear. They push through as best they know how, but it does seem to affect their performance and the crowd’s enjoyment.
Hopefully for The Croxton’s sake this was just a teething problem, as the venue is fantastic and there are some great gigs coming up there. Overall the opening night was a brilliant launch to the northside’s newest venue.
