Live Review

Custard @ The Woolly Mammoth

It's always going to be a good night when Local DJ and Rock'n'Roller Nick Naughton aka DJ El Norto spins up a set. Warming the room and punters up with classic and quintessential tunes from all era's but especially the 90's - the era of Custard - the main event for the night. Of course the room is pumped to see some quality music. 

I must add that I am always impressed with the new look Wooly Mammoth Main Stage room. It's a solid room for gigs. It's always an aural pleasure with El Norto.

Before you know it, more locals, The Goon Sax take the stage and damn they are good. A three piece outfit comprising two guitars, drums and three amazing voices wow the crowd with their quirky ditties. 

In every way this is a very family gig for Custard. Everyone on the Bill has ties to the band and all are around musical genius no less.  Louis Forster of the Goon Sax is Son of Go-Betweens Legend and Custard Mentor, Robert Forster. Nick Naughton has played in many 90's Brisbane bands and notably now alongside Dave McCormacks Brother, Dylan, in Gentle Ben and His Sensitive Side.  The pedigree of talent is outstanding. 

Wahooti!! It's Custards turn. It's the last show for them touring their new album Come Back all is Forgiven, around the country. Of course it had to be in Brisbane where it all started. I feel I just need to paint a picture here. If you don't know, Custard began their reign of Brisbane awesomeness in the early 90's and released EP's and finally a string of albums and hit tunes which abruptly stopped some 20 years ago.  The band dissolved. In recent years the band has played shows but namely without Matthew Robert Strong. So this new album is once again with the original line up and that's something special. 

So, there's all of them on stage in their home town once more. Dave McCormack acknowledges this and enlightens the crowd to the sort of night we are in for in his own dry, funny style, being that he is largely the main songwriter of the band and the Captain of the Ship. 

Launching into it, the 300 strong crowd are given tunes old and new - Apartment, Singlette, Pack yar Suitcases, Orchids in Water, We are the Parents, Fantastic Plastic, Caboolture Speed Lab - just some of the crowd favourites on the night.  The older crowd, largely knowing every word sang and danced their arses off. Me included. Matthew Strong on lead guitar is absolutely on fire tonight. Paul Medew is the rock on the Bass. He's like a not so silent assassin that drives the beat in the group, ably supported by the masterful Glenn Thompson on drums. It was an electric feeling in the room with the crowd and band totally into it.  

What I love about this band is that they are always very chatty and engage with the audience in any way they can and the crowd response is always favourable. 

Soon enough in the large repertoire that is the Custard catalogue, multi-instrumentalist and song writer Glenn Thompson, takes over the mike, straps on a guitar and belts out some of Custards best. The Music is Crap and off the latest offering, Warren Rd and Contemporary Arts. Captivating harmonious songs that warm the heart.  

A few more tracks are played and the band leaves the stage, but not for long! Encore! Encore! 

The new album is in my humble opinion an absolute cracker. It's a grower not a show-er. I may be bias because I am easily one of the bands biggest fans, but until you see Custard play live, you won't get the full force of how the band intended these songs to be played and heard. There is just so much more to these songs. More voices, more notes, more oomph!!! 

Well, all I can say is they blew me away. 

So to finish the night, all the stops are pulled out with some more All-time Classic Custard. I near wet my pants when they played Rockfish Anna - their very first single. Pinball Lez had the crowd in a frenzy and last track Bedford had the crowd going ballistic! It was a return to roots and a serious return to form, with the last 6 months of gigging doing the band a lot of good. I've seen more Custard gigs than most and all I can say is this one was epic. The band was tight as F@"k and so was their unity. May there be many more albums to follow. 

If you get the chance to see any of these bands, do it.  This was an excellent Brisbane Line up. So much talent.  

All in all it was a great gig with Custard playing much of their newest album and many of the classics you'd come to expect and they're still getting better. 

Thank you Custard for putting it on. 5 Wahooti  Fandangos!!  

Albie Allan 

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