Reviewed on Friday June 5 (photo by Ashley Mar)
Every now and then, a music critic or radio DJ can be heard describing an artist as ‘quintessentially Australian’. It’s invariably delivered with an air of unquestionable gravity, as if those two words say everything there is to say about a band, songwriter or slack-jawed rapper. Problem is, nobody can point to the Australian chord or the Australian melody to give that description any real meaning. And yet, a band like Jebediah and their music seem Australian to the core. They just can’t help it.
Perhaps it’s their enduring presence on the landscape that’s done it. This tour marks the Perth foursome’s 20th anniversary (and accompanying Twenty compilation, because if Jebediah’s oh-so-simple, oh-so-catchy rock ditties haven’t gone out of fashion, then the idea of the ‘best of’ album sure hasn’t either), and the fans on this side of the country are raring to go for a birthday sing-song. ‘Animal’ gives them their first opportunity – it helps that Kevin Mitchell’s nasal hooks ring out long enough that anyone can find their way to a correct note eventually – while the softer edges on ‘Losing Streak’ lend a relatable air; we look straight through the already minimal artifice of this particular rock’n’roll show, and see that these stars are regular people like the rest of us.
Indeed, Jebediah are only just good enough at their instruments, only just smart enough with their lyrics. That’s no criticism – it’s more than classic punk ever had going for it – and everyone’s determination not to take things too seriously tonight makes for a mighty fun time. The crowd is friendly, but it’s not without energy, and as the Jebs return from their interval with ‘Leaving Home’, the first mosh-surfer of many takes his mark. There’s an overwhelming feeling that ‘Harpoon’ soundtracked at least one teenage heartbreak per person in the audience, judging by the sing-along here, but ‘Teflon’ is the real favourite.
‘Twilight = Dusk’ gets a dishonourable mention for being almost completely out of tune, but missteps are otherwise too few to count, and nobody’s wiping the smiles off this crowd’s faces anyway. Whatever the quintessentially Australian sound is, Jebediah are part of it. It’s hard to see that changing for a while yet.
