Words by Tracey Moyle {Music Maven}
Photography by Elizabeth Sharpe | @ummagummamumma
This is Serious Brisbane!
Melbournian cult rockers TISM kicked off their ‘Death To Art’ Tour at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Sunday night, the venue packed with TISM fans old and new. But Sunday night’s mini-fest was more than just a TISM show (and what a show it was). It had that sweet-tasting essence of a ‘Homebake Festival’, lacing the buzz around the crowd. These elder statesmen of Australian music brought good company along with them with four of the country’s most iconic artists here to entertain. The Mavis’s, Ben Lee, Eskimo Joe and Machine Gun Fellatio have joined the TISM party across the country. The latter proving to be an eagerly awaited show with fans donning MGF t-shirts from both old days and freshly picked from the merch tent.
TISM could be considered as one of the most ‘Aussie’ bands to ever exist. Their songs are narratives of daily life (in most cases) unafraid to speak painfully obvious truths about people and politics, straightforward being an understatement, making them the champions of the term ‘I just say what you think’. They have an obsession with vintage (AFL) football almost as big as their love of the word c***. Their songs are drenched in satirical honesty, good and bad. PC they are not. Poetic, political, scathing, flamboyant and completely captivating, TISM’s stage presence is as grandiose as their music. They can get away with (almost) anything because they are TISM. Also possibly the only band that could follow Machine Gun Fellatio and not seem a boring afterthought.
An early start at 4:30pm with five seminal bands on the bill at the Brisbane open-air venue. The crowd were still pouring in through the gates and the Riverstage lawn looked like a big summer picnic space. People were happy and relaxed.
The Mavis’s were the perfect opener for the day’s line-up. They are everything TISM aren’t. They definitely opened the day on a breezy, lighter note to how it would end. With a string of catchy alt-pop songs weaving their way into the hearts of fans through the ’90s, the memories have held strong with fans in the crowd.
Siblings, Matt and Becky Thomas were looking the part and full of energy. Theirs was a short six-song set, but they entertained the crowd with all the energy of a full set. The fans bopped along happily to their songs, Lever and Thunder. They brought the place together with popular hit Cry, and the crowd really opened up, when they closed the set with their rocker Naughty Boy. It was great to have The Mavis’s open this line-up. The day was full of brilliant musicians and lots of nostalgia and this was a nice start.
Ben Lee has been releasing music and touring consistently for almost two decades. He’s a popular add to festival line-ups these days and his quirky demeanour has a crowd engaged with his smooth, steady, upbeat vibe, both personally and musically. Lee casually walks onto the stage, does a quick tune-up, says a casual “Hi” to the fans, and opens the night with his 1998 Triple j Hottest 100 No. 2 smash Cigarettes Will Kill You. A great opener for the fans. Into the Dark follows, keeping things flowing.
The Riverstage lawn is covered in rugs with people chilled and enjoying the Sunday afternoon. Music can be a kind of time machine with songs transporting us back to when… The crowd were soaking in the last of the sun and Lee’s small talk about each song. His banter is light but vulnerable. He spoke about his reputation when he was young, being called an arsehole, often. He wrote a song about this time, taking everyone into his track Arsehole. He pulls no punches in this self-reflection.
He recounted a story about finding out the reason for not being on the big festival line-ups in the ‘90s. He was told in a somewhat humorously way, his songs weren’t good enough to take drugs to. So he went and released his ‘psychedelic’ song in 2002, giving fans a big ‘psychedelic’ intro into Something Borrowed, Something Blue. He ended his set needing a restart “That is what I call a fuck up and I wear it proudly,” he states in good nature, taking the fans out with a sing-a-long to Catch My Disease.
A short but entertaining set from Ben Lee.
The crowd had built to almost capacity by the time Eskimo Joe made their way on stage. This is my second review of Eskimo Joe in 6 months following their Regional Acoustic Tour across the country and it was great to see them again in their rock essence. They temporarily took over the TISM stage backdrop with their own insignia. These adored rockers have been touring for decades, on the festival circuit and their own headlining shows around the country. They have a crowd of fans everywhere they go and tonight this was definitely their demographic.
They opened their set with Sarah as fans poured in from their comfy picnic rugs to up the front of stage. I was surprised but also not surprised at how many younger fans were up there with the rest of us more life-weathered music lovers. Watching second-generation Eskies fans singing along throughout the set almost made my day.
With a lot of music to get through, today was a day to focus on the songs, so with little banter in between tracks they played through their set. They chose a popular set with New York then Older Than You ringing out across the crowd. The fans responded with a roar to Foreign Land and took to the bands latest single The First Time like it was an old favourite.
Kav loves to chat at shows but today was a tight set with so many on the line-up. With ‘This is not a Sweater’ t-shirt merch for sale it was no surprise that Kav mentioned they may play an ‘old’ favourite later in the night. He found time to mention the bands ‘big movie’ song, starring in the Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth film, ‘The Last Song’. This song, Setting Sun, also stared on their 2006 ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’ album.
When Kav asks everyone to show him their fingernails there’s no prizes for guessing what comes next, the band taking us into their most popular track, another Triple J No 2 placing hit, Black Fingernails, Red Wine. A warmup for the crowds vocals ready for the next track.
Joel Quartermaine puts down the guitar to jump on the drums, so you know it’s time for some original Eskie’s fun and the old school fans were in for their promised treat, with the bands breakthrough single, Sweater capturing the ‘good old days’ for probably 80% of the crowd. They finished their set with another fan favourite From The Sea. Even though there were only five bands on the bill, there were still festival vibes running through the Riverstage.
The announcement of Machine Gun Fellatio on tonight’s bill had fans in a whirl of ecstasy at the chance to see their much loved MGF live and in the flesh once again. The crowd was keen and ready for the show to begin… And it starts with a sexy bang!
KK Juggy wears a beaming smile and signature sexy AF, theatrical getup complete with captain’s hat as she greets us with “Hello strangers!” and dives straight into (Let Me Be Your) Dirty F#!@ing Whore. The tone is surely set for a wild ride, as the rest of the band join KK on stage to roars from the adoring crowd.
Outrageous lyrics seamlessly blend with catchy melodies and the crowd is absolutely smothered in sticky, sweet nostalgia…. Some of that could be sweat – the dancing and moshing has really picked up all of a sudden! Track after glorious track, performed to perfection, showcasing the MGF knack for juxtaposing raunchiness with genuine musical craftsmanship… 100 Fresh Disciples, The Girl Of My Dreams Is Giving Me Nightmares… Chit Chat tells the photographers that although they’ve been told that they’ve gotta get out after 3 songs, that the band want them to stay for the whole set! What legends!!
The audience fucking explodes upon recognising the intro for Rollercoaster and the moshing pace steps up a notch! After Mouth, the pulsating amphitheatre erupts into full throttle as KK walks in wearing a nun’s habit singing Mutha Fukka On A Motorcycle, tambourine in hand and the crowd is mesmerised until they explode as the habit swiftly comes off at the end. I can’t pick a fan favourite from this set list, and it’s not even over yet!
In what could only be described as a rollercoaster of emotions for hardcore fans, they shifted gears with the more tender Unsent Letter. Pinky Beecroft serenades and simultaneously tugs at the heartstrings of the fans, who are singing along, word for word to the unconventional ballad. MGF’s ability to slide seamlessly from filthy to sentimental made the emotional depth of this track stand out even more, a brief respite perhaps before diving into Not Afraid of Romance.
It’s impossible to look away as the mighty Machine Gun Fellatio (or is the reincarnation now to be known as Machine Gunnilingus?) close out their set with Panty Liner and some unforgettable, chaotic scenes on stage – including hula hoops, burlesque, nun’s habits, teddy bears with slightly fried fur, and angle grinders far closer to body parts than I would like to even imagine. I am left both wholly satisfied and wanting so much more. Please never leave us again!
Raucous, experimental, brimming with dark humour. Their set was a testament to their ability to fuse shock value with true musical talent. Machine Gun Fellatio have proved that even after a 19-year absence, they remain one of the most unique and provocative acts on the Australian music scene.
Finally the moment we were there for. TISM entered with an appropriate fanfare. Decked out in red suits with capes, they arrived on stage carrying motorised silver foil trains billowing out from their backs, which were removed quickly by stagehands after their flamboyant arrival. Their red masked faces carrying rooster/mohawk like crowns on their heads. It was another display of brilliantly over-the-top TISM regalia.
A diatribe opens with, “When Kyle Sandilands dies, he’s the one with Jackie O. Hell’s judgement he must undergo. ‘Limp dick forever’, Satan commands”.
Here we go TISM fans or victims, whatever you prefer your title to be, the show has begun. The rhyme ends with the introduction of ‘Death To Art’ and takes us into I’ll ‘Ave Ya. The Machiavelli and the Four Seasons back drop falls away exposing a giant scaffold holding three storeys and approximately 18 artists, dressed in white, working on their own individual pieces of art.
The band launch into their latest music and the title track to the album and tour, Death To Art. “Let’s go destroy all of art. And then we’ll poo in the park” sings Humphrey B Flaubert. I’m sure fans were keen to see where this would lead by the end of the night.
The set list is 23 songs long, and the performance is a dynamic and visual spectacular. The energy from these well-seasoned performers (est. 1982) is inspiring, with half the band founding members.
The fans sing and bounce along to I Drive A Truck, Whatareya? (sing it… “You’re a Wanker”), and the melodic pipes come out with another new track, The “C” Word. (If you haven’t heard it, do it.) Meanwhile, on the scaffolding behind, some brilliant pieces of art are unfolding before our eyes. I’m afraid to think of what will happen with these creations.
How many words rhyme with Milli Vanilli? We know there’s a few as we go into Lillee Caught Dilley Bowled Milli Vanilli. They slide, both hyperactively and effortlessly from one song to the next. Their theatrics and vocals are as forthright as always. I feel like the choreography for a TISM show would take longer to learn than the songs themselves.
The songs keep coming, Saturday Night Palsy is a popular track with the long-time fans.
Another scathing diatribe follows, they then stand silently on stage, as the crowd waits, The Last Post rings out. They leave the stage. A ‘what’s happening now’ feeling runs briefly around the packed venue. Then the crowd remember where they are, chanting – “TISM are shit”.
The band soon return, one member stage dives into the crowd and new music rings out with Old Skook TISM. The art continues to unfold as does the not stop energy of the choreography on stage. Going back to ’88, 40 Years – Then Death is next as they play on through songs chosen for the night out of many. The crowd go off with everyone’s favourite, Greg! The Stop Sign!! blasting out.
I haven’t mentioned the brass section at the back of stage. Every band should have a brass section. Sax, trumpet, trombone. It brings the most amazing energy to any live show.
Only at a TISM show will you hear the words “Death Death Death Amway Amway Amway” in the same sentence. Card’s displaying an array of words for the crowd to yell out had them keeping up with the song. The Mystery of Art Explained is the segue into the now mostly completed art coming down from behind. What will happen next.
The frenzy of (He’ll Never Be An) Ol’ Man River pushed up the energy levels a few more notches. The fans have got what they came for and more. The band members leave the stage and the chanting starts from the crowd; “TISM are wankers”. A TISM show is a show like no other.
They aren’t gone for long and when they return they carry the one-of-a-kind art pieces designed in the backdrop throughout the show, the opening of Root playing them in. What did they do with the paintings? Remember the tour, album and single is called Death To Art. And so be it, as the paintings were tossed into a frenzied crowd. Ironically acting in a frenzy, everyone wanting to get their piece of art and in the process, destroying it, many frantic hands ripping them apart. They crowd becoming the anarchy the song describes.
It would be a shame to have a TISM show with no footy tunes so we were happy to hear 70’s football in the dying throws of the night. The band hand-balling water bottles around the stage.
Bands have to make a choice on what song will close their show, and Defecate On My Face may not have been what some expected as they threw more paintings into the crowd. More art destroyed in the name of art. Although, one painting survived as I watched someone on the other side of the venue grab and run for their lives to the top of the Riverstage, the painting flying in the breeze above their head. Now there’s a gem to frame and put in the pool room. Lucky human. Everyone else just ended up with paint all over them.
It would be a shame to have a TISM show with no footy tunes so we were happy to hear 70’s football in the dying throws of the night. The band hand balling water bottles around the stage.
In true raucous style, members of the band dove into the crowd to end the show. Going into your crowd of fans at a show is a sign of trust. So I want to call out the ‘C’ word who ripped off one of the members masks sending him running out with security. TISM’s anonymity (even if it isn’t as anonymous as it once was) is a part of their package. So fans should respect that whole package not just the three songs you’ve heard on the radio and call yourself a TISM fan. The fact that this particular ignorant punter hung around afterwards wearing the red crested balaclava like a giant cock said a lot. I’m expecting their next c*** song to be referencing arsehole fans. Whatareya? You’re a Yob.
There is so much to unpack at a TISM show and I don’t think I have captured half of the spectacular chaos, and pure sense of freedom that TISM bring to music fans. If there is ever a TISM live show in Brisbane again, I suggest if you missed out before, take the chance. You will never forget it.
Also, I’m wondering how many people picked up the irony in the music that played over the sound system as we walked out of the venue. Over the speakers Regurgitator rung out I Sucked a Lot of Cock to Get Where I am, followed right behind with Kung Fu Sing. Funny.
Thanks to Morse Code PR + Destroy All Lines
