Models – The Gershwin Room, The Espy
August 9, 2010 by Andrew Watt
Filed under Live Reviews
In all probability the current incarnation of Models will be a fleeting footnote on the bands history, a single entry on the band’s Wikipedia page that says “In 2010 a line-up consisting of Sean Kelly, Andrew Duffield, Barton Price and Mark Ferrie played a single, well received show at the Esplanade Hotel in Melbourne. This was to be the final show in the band’s history.”
Yet the consensus among the small but well informed Models focus group (which seemed to be reflected in the large and very enthusiastic audience) was that this incarnation was as good, nay, superior to any we had witnessed in the bands 30 year history.
It makes you wonder what creative and musical peaks this line-up could reach if the got it into their collective heads to persist beyond this show.
Musically they were outstanding. Each member contributed to the re-incarnation of these songs into a more muscular, more flexible (but no less interesting) version of their former selves. Each player individually has evolved into a better player but collectively the whole far exceeds the sum of even these improved parts. Sean Kelly’s guitar playing – even when only availing himself of the services of five strings – was better and more confident than I remembered, and the quirky, yet very ‘musical’ keyboards of Andrew Duffield made me realise what a loss he was when he drifted from the bosom of the band after it’s initial foray into our consciousness.
But the real “one and one makes three” aspect of this line-up was the rhythm section of Price and Ferrie who had never recorded together and yet seemed obviously the best bass and drums backline the Models never had.
The songs played were drawn largely from the albums Alphabravocharliedeltaechofoxtrotgolf, Local and/or General and the EP Cut Lunch. While most fans would have left rejoicing about the setlist it’s only the day after when you realise what they left out.
They played the whole first side of Local and/or General but nothing from Side 2, which may have simply been a co-incidence. We were treated to Pate Pedestrian and Happy Birthday IBM from Alpha Bravo but not Pull The Pin, Kissing Around Corners and Uncontrollable Boy. The Cut Lunch EP contributed Two Cabs To The Toucan, Atlantic Romantic and the title track, but Man O’ Action missed out.
Big On Love and Evolution (from Out of Mind Out of Sight and Media respectively) were two surprising inclusions and were perhaps a gesture of Kelly reclaiming those albums.
Of course the encore which offered up (among others) Telstar was enough to make a group of (fast approaching) 50 year old men very, very happy and possibly bought a collective tear to the collective eye of those collected in the Gershwin.
There is certainly another show’s worth of songs that didn’t get an airing tonight, especially when you count the plethora of more obscure live hits (after a fashion) that are lurking ominously on the Models Melbourne album.
Accordingly the Models focus group was left demanding not just an encore but a whole extra performance.
Is it simply the nostalgia talking?
I don’t think so – the era of Models from which the majority of tonight’s set was drawn came from a time when the band, and Kelly in particular, were ahead of their time. They have a body of probably fifty songs that are as smart, adventurous, quirky, intelligent, humorous and endearing as any of the new bands of today who are operating in a new-wave/pop/punk/artschool influenced way. There is absolutely no reason why they couldn’t record a new album of new songs and merge them into this remarkable catalogue and add to their legacy.
To a casual fan of Australian music tonight’s setlist contained a number of songs that a casual fan would have expected to hear. They weren’t missed, not even slightly, and the audience at tonight’s show lapped up what was on offer in the knowledge that this was the band Models always should have been.
But it’s a different world now – it’s not about record sales, expensive videos, high-priced producers and recouping label advances anymore. This incarnation of the Models could be a highly successful cottage industry by recording new songs when they have them, touring that wonderful catalogue of songs, in this brilliantly talented and coherent configuration and selling t-shirts and compilation CD’s to people like the small, but highly insightful Models focus group.
I hope they do that and I’m know I’m not alone.
What a show! I completely agree with the reviewer… It was a privilege to be amongst the faithful on Friday at the Espy… as we were re-introduced to the seminal Models lineup… based on what they demonstrated on Friday night, this version of Models have what it takes to succeed in today’s cottage industry… an important first step would be to release recordings of these two shows…
So good to see Andrew back behind the keys and Mark on bass… and I really liked Duffield’s newly penned track, “That Guy” in the encore… “Don’t like his clothes, don’t like his car, don’t like the way he’s looking at my girl”… Sean introduced old favourite Barton Price back behind drums “playing on Auckland time… it’s actualy 2am for him!”… and Mark got everyone going with a great rendition of “Unhappy” Sean entertained with his trademark facial antics and prowess despite missing a B string for the majority of the night…”We’re working without a net tonight…rent-a-bombs… no spare guitars…fuck the reveal…” to which a punter responded “Love ya Sean!” I think she spoke for the majority…
Guys, whatever you do, keep the momentum going… cos you know what happens otherwise…. “My feet get hot… on the spot….YEEEAAAAARRRGGGGHH”
Awesome work, keep it up!!!
Oh man, I missed the gig … I’m sure it would have been as good as the shows this line-up did in 2004. I have to check the gig guides more often! Anybody do a desk tape!?!
“That guy” is actually “You know what I like about that guy? (Nothing!)” from Duffield’s 1986 solo album “Ten Happy Fingers”. Two other tracks from the album made the “B-side” of Absent Friends’ Hullabaloo in 1989.
Sounds great! Did anyone get a full set-list from the night?
@ Matt – Ah! Is that what the Duffield Song was. Cheers for that!
There’s a few videos of the gig here: http://vimeo.com/carbiewarbie/videos/search:models/sort:newest
Harry W, I’m not 110% certain but I’m almost sure I was the girl who screamed “Love ya Sean!” after that line about “no spare guitars… fuck the reveal…”
And in truth, I meant the whole band. I mean, WHAT a show. I’m still bouncing on air, just thinking about it, more than two weeks on.
Andrew Watt has it right – there’s a Models lineup who could do truly great things if we could persuade them to keep going… (and I know for a fact that a good many Brisbane punters want to see them. I’m one of them – a lucky one, admittedly, who had just enough in her bank account, and no husband or kids to think of, who could just say “Models show, with THAT lineup? Damn, I’m THERE.” And I was,,, and I’m so very glad to have made it! Others I spoke to in the crowd and afterward felt the same way.) Yes, there’s his “Models focus group” – but there’s a surprising number of us who were maybe twelve in 1985, discovered the band through *cough*OOMOOS*cough*, but bought the back catalogue… and then kicked ourselves forever after, for not being a few years older.
Nostalgia’s not what it used to be, and all that… but this show transcended all the “retro” buzz, and managed to sound fresh – amazing for a bunch of songs most of which have passed their silver anniversary! – and I, for one, am willing to jump aboard that cottage bandwagon and promote the hell out of these guys if they ever decide to try and make a go of it.
And that’s the truth (about truth about truth… about scientists Models!)
Models = life
Birthday Party = death
hey guys, whoever wants to know the setlist, here it is – Drive and Reflex, Big on Love, Happy B’day IBM, Local and or General, Two cabs to the toucan, Twice removed, Atlantic romantic, Dying for my country, Cut lunch, Unhappy, Evolution, I Hear Motion, Truth about Scientists, Preacher from the Black Lagoon, Pate Pedestrian. Encores – Telstar, Know what i like about that Guy (nothing !!!), Thank you Goodnight. How do I know ?? I pinched one of the set-lists off the stage at the end. Bloody hell they rocked. Please Sean, play again with that line-up …. that ig was seriously awesome. cheers to all the Models freaks out there.
That is a great set list.
IMHO, it all began to resemble something like a pear when Mr Freud hoved into view.