It would appear that Michael Gudinski was right. If the capacity crowd at The Forum was anything to go by, then the Australian music mogul wasn’t the only one who was excited about The Rubens.
Performing in Melbourne as a part of their largest tour to date, the boys from Menangle continued their dream run.
Opening the night in support of the four-piece lineup was Melbourne singer-songwriter Ali Barter. The demure songstress filled the venue with her beautiful, folk-inspired and heartfelt music, appreciating the fact that a significant crowd had gathered to see her despite it being several hours before the main act.
The platinum blonde artist performed with a husky, sweet innocence, epitomised in her dreamy ballad, “Marigold”.
Supported by a small band, Barter ably switches between her guitar and a keyboard, her talent and understated performance style ensure an engaging set.
The mood shifted dramatically as the second support act of the night, Walk The Moon, took to the stage. Injecting an amazing energy into the room, the Ohio-based rockers jumped around on stage performing their catchy, pop-influenced, alternative rock tunes.
Dominated by strong guitar riffs, a frantic driving drumbeat, and energetic vocals, the band’s music drew comparisons to The Killers and The Wombats. Lead singer, Nicholas Petricca, showcased an impressive vocal range, moving from acoustic style gentle melodies, through to heavy rock anthems.
Singing, whilst simultaneously performing on keys and percussion, Petricca put his heart and soul into the performance. A brilliant falsetto and an impressive mix of harmonies came to the fore during the catchy “Next In Line”.
Obviously excited to be in Australia for the first time, the band put on a true rock and roll show, performing as if to a huge festival crowd. Their energy was infectious and it wasn’t long before the crowd was jumping around with hands in the air, singing along to songs that they didn’t really know.
Warming themselves to a new crowd, the four-piece opted for a familiar cover. “Since we just met, we thought we’d play a song you might know” announces Petricca. “Do you guys like David Bowie?” A rhetorical question, the young musicians launch into a cover of “Let’s Dance” – an exact recreation of the original, but still an impressive performance.
Finishing with their popular youth anthem, “Anna Sun”, the Cincinnati locals plugged their upcoming show at the Northcote Social Club, no doubt winning some fans in the process.
Several hours since the doors opened, the young crowd got what they came for. The Rubens entered the stage to rapturous applause, opening with the defiant and powerful “The Day You Went Away”.
Beginning with a strong drumbeat and catchy harmonies, the song moves through many layers, and is a perfect example of the soulful, roots-influenced, bluesy rock music that has made these country lads so popular.
Continuing with “Be Gone”, another better-off-without-you tune, it’s clear these boys have a story to tell.
The band – three brothers and a friend – power through their set list, performing every song from their self titled debut album. Sam Margin’s soulful voice resonates through the venue, and while there’s not much crowd interaction, the performances are emotive and passionate.
A cover of The Roots’ “The Seed”, as performed at Triple J’s One Night Stand concert a few weeks earlier, was well received despite the absence of Seth Sentry. However, the night wasn’t completely without special guests, the band inviting Bertie Blackman on stage to contribute vocals during “Paddy”.
Her complementary harmonies and heartfelt solos received squeals from the crowd, adding a welcome female influence to the set.
The unmistakable piano solo that opens ‘The Best We Got” brought the crowd to a hush. One of the more rhythmically and melodically complex of their songs, this somewhat dark and pessimistic tale of life’s realisations showcased the band’s cohesiveness.
Margin’s gritty, growling vocals during “I’ll Surely Die” were interspersed with heavy, muddled electric guitar, flashing lights, and drums that vibrated through the venue.
“We’ve only got a few left, but we’ll make them good”, says Margin. They include a new song, “Cut Me Loose”; the tortured and minimalist “Lay It Down” and finally, the song where they “usually get someone up on stage to play the tambourine”, “Don’t Ever Want To Be Found”.
A slightly reluctant audience member climbed onto the stage and feebly tapped away at the instrument.
The heartfelt, rock ballad “Never Be The Same” formed the first half of the encore, Margin taking to the keyboard for this musical tale of self-discovery.
Finally, if not predictably, the boys closed with “My Gun” – the southern sounding tune that convinced legendary New Yorker, David Kahne, to produce their album.
It’s hard to believe this foursome have only being playing together for just over two years. Their success may seem to be overnight, but with undeniable talent, songs that resonate with such a wide audience, and a great live show, their star is set to rise even higher.
