Drones, The - A Thousand Mistakes (DVD)

There aren’t many bands that’d name their live DVD, “A Thousand Mistakes”. Most would be rather precious or would die of embarrassment knowing such errors were out there for everyone to witness and worse still, pay for. But The Drones aren’t most bands and perhaps that is why they are so highly acclaimed and revered. Or it could just be that their humbleness and self-deprecation, not to mention their genre-defying, blues-hinting dark noise and meaningful lyrics just connect with people in ways your too-cool-for-school rockstar poseurs could only dream.

“A Thousand Mistakes” is the band’s second DVD set and follows-on from their “Live In Madrid” compilation. This time around we get four and a half hours worth of footage guaranteed to offer – as the press release suggests – “A peephole into the stage life of The Drones”. Again, they offer some cuts from their European shows, although this time around it’s France and Germany’s turns.

For those wondering, the release’s name comes from bassist, Fiona Kitschin and is meant to encompass the unpredictable nature of their live shows. Frontman, Gareth Liddiard assures us that there are f**k-ups and while there are no whiz bang special effects (like dancers, auto-tune, fireworks, etc) there is certainly no need for such crap, as it’s all very captivating stuff, especially in its gritty, warts-and-all glory.

The set was released for no divine reason apart from the fact Liddiard collects copies of the videos produced every time the band is filmed (around once a year by his estimation). These came to be piled up in a box and in true Neil Young archive style they felt it was as good a time as any to put it out. And we’re glad they did, as the biggest coup of the set is the “Warehouse Session”.

In 2010 the group got together in a warehouse in Fairfield, Victoria and were joined by Steve Hesketh on keys. They played for no one in particular and for a track like “Penumbra” it’s pretty much just ol’ Gaz and an acoustic guitar. There are also rare songs like “Work For Me” and others that aren’t performed live very often because Liddiard says they’re either too mellow or the equipment is too big. Simple as that…

The Drones offer up the goods with music that really showcases Liddiard’s pop writing craft, one that can see this band hold their own against The Triffids, Go-Betweens et al. of this great land – whether they’re name-dropping Oz towns or recounting tales of history in “16 Straws” or directing questions to the listener with a sneer and a kick in the guts. Liddiard really is believable in his many guises as hardened alcoholic, shunned convict, troubadour and all-round friend to the vagabonds and miscreants in society and he also finds time to repent for his own misdemeanors too!

The bonus disc combines performances notched up between 2005 and 2010. As expected, there are a number of different versions of the behemoth, “I Don’t Ever Want To Change” and there is black and white footage from 2010’s gig at the East Brunswick Club with crowd favourites proving to be “Hell & Haydevils” and “She Had An Abortion That She Made Me Pay For”. But it was “The Miller’s Daughter” that was always set to be a highlight, with its passionate fury and Liddiard offering great walls of sound just by playing with some old knobs on the floor.

The cuts from The Tote gig in 2005 showcase a raucous young punk/rock band playing with a sheer raw intensity but at times this isn’t a patch on the chaos that occurred in Confort, France. In the latter, the footage actually matches the disorder and deafening sound on stage, it’s so strong and yet so cool. It looked like one hell of a show with the spirit of The Dead Kennedy’s during their young, halcyon punk days alive and well in “Motherless Children”. Plus, the great unwashed dance up a storm while on stage in true Iggy Pop fashion, meaning the following show in Sydney filmed at the State Theatre almost seems banal and sedate by comparison, a real shame as the wonderful Ben Salter joins in on “Oh My”.

“A Thousand Mistakes” offers viewers so much that it will soon prove itself as a must-have for all Drones fans – and they in turn will probably be clambering for the extra-special, limited edition vinyl with full live audio goodness. For those unacquainted with this Perth-via-Melbourne quartet it’s also a tidy set and fabulous introduction to the band.

So truth be told if there’s only one real mistake to be found here it’s that it might’ve been nice to mix up some of the live footage with an interview or two. Because while Gareth Liddiard may have a lot to say in his music – after all, he sings those amazing prolix words with his broad Aussie drawl – he seems a man of few words in a banter-type sense. Perhaps he’s just content to let the art speak for itself but I know that getting that added insight and perspective from the source about the songwriting craft would certainly work for me.

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