The Matches - On Fire

After driving for nearly an hour and half, and getting completely lost on the way to a suburb I had never heard of, I was looking forward to enjoying a night of manic fun with the soundtrack provided by the bubblegum, electro-tinged, punk of The Matches. The supports weren’t of much interest to me, or the majority of the under-age crowd at Engadine Community Centre, for without a doubt everyone was there to see the Californian quartet.

That’s not to say that the supports were ignored. A small crowd gathered to watch Lost in Line play their pure punk set, but the audience seemed more intent on securing prime position for when the main band came on, than watching the support.

Once locals, Fifty Sixx, hit the stage, the mood changed. People became more interested in this band that played really great music, but were let down by their lead singer. While he and his voice did appear to be suffering from the stifling heat in the hall, he still had all the onstage charisma of a coconut, preferring to banter with his band-mates rather than interact with the audience. This was a definite shame considering how tight the band actually is. The songs were well executed, catchy, provided by a band that seemed to have all the energy the singer lacked, and despite the strain in his voice, the vocals and lyrics are excellent.

Adelaide’s In Fiction came next. They aren’t making original music, but it drew a crowd who found themselves bopping along in time with the catchy melodies. The band moved around the stage, danced, bantered with the audience, and just delivered great pop rock. Definitely check them out if you get the chance.

The expectation for The Matches arrival on stage was almost visible in the air. The band had spent most of the night mingling with the kids that had come to see them, giving them an air of accessibility that you don’t normally get at shows.

The band took the stage and for the next hour and a bit they performed! They strutted, danced, bantered, moved, swung, jumped, and did numerous other movements that probably don’t have names until the stage had puddles of sweat glistening in the lights (gross, yes, but a testament to how hard they worked). Guitarist Jon Devoto stripped down three layers of clothing before the show had finished.

Then there was manic, hyperactive lead singer Shawn Harris. He delivered his vocals from the front of the stage, on top of speaker stacks, and standing on the shoulders of the audience, while clinging the rafters above his head for dear life. And when he came off the stage at the end of the set, he literally collapsed on his back on the floor.

Though most of the material they played was drawn from their newest release, Decomposer, there were enough of their older songs to keep the die-hard fans happy. Live, though, the songs reach a new level. A lot of the aggression and meaning of the songs is lost on the clean production of the album, but really comes to life live. “Salty Eyes”, for example, is a soft, meandering almost-ballad, but with the electric element it has live, the song sounds almost ominous and a little scary.

It was all very melodramatic, like the entire night. If you’re familiar with the cover of Decomposer, then it was no surprise to see black, plastic crows all over the equipment. Even the hobo-chic costuming added personality to a night that had it’s definite highlight when Something With Numbers lead singer, Jake Grigg, crashed the stage in a much too tight Matches t-shirt, and took Harris to the floor, quite literally.

Erratic, wild, entertaining and completely unpredictable. Add to this a band that is utterly devoted to their fans and you have the makings of a live show that will leave you stunned. The Matches’ fantastic music and crazy on-stage antics made this one of the most entertaining and fun gigs I had been to in a long time.

Share this review on Facebook