BWW Reviews: AUGIE MARCH Were Comfortably at Home With Friends

Reviewed by Ray Smith, Friday 27th March 2015

The show, at Her Majesty's Theatre, started rather unexpectedly early as Cosmo Thundercat took to the stage, in support of Augie March, at 8.10pm. This was an opening act that had not been advertised.

I was only made aware of the slight change in programme a few hours before the show began and, while I really don't know whose idea it was to plonk this young Adelaide trio onto the hallowed stage of Her Majesty's Theatre, it was a very good move. While I would love to be able to give you the names of these three young blokes neither their website nor their FaceBook page reveal any more than that they are Anthony, Sammy and David. Shy chaps it would seem.

Anthony (please forgive my familiarity sir) opened the show with a solo performance from the corner of the stage to a still fully lit and, as yet, half empty theatre. The courage that took I can only imagine, as he presented a beautiful song accompanied by his own excellent guitar work to the well illuminated members of the audience still shuffling past other patrons in search of their seats.
His professionalism and the sincerity of his work belied his youth. It was an excellent opener.
He was joined by bassist, Sammy, and drummer and backing vocalist, David, and the still brightly lit, still shuffling and bemused audience were offered an unexpected treat as the three young beards offered a nicely balanced set.

The songs ranged from country to folk to pop and were all very well written and intelligently arranged. The drummer's vocal harmonies were subtle, understated and supportive of the lead lyric just as the books say they should be. By the time their all too brief set had ended the theatre was full and still fully lit, which gave this excellent trio the unusual opportunity of being able to see their enthusiastic and appreciative audience.

I bought their EP before I refilled my wine glass during the interval.

Augie March took to the stage as an eight piece ensemble: singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist, Glenn Richards, to the fore, with lead guitarist, Adam Donovan, extensive keyboards, Kiernan Box, a bassist, Edmondo Ammendola, a drummer, David Williams, with an added saxophone, trumpet, and trombone 'horn section', The Arnold Horns. Richards's vocals were supported by harmonies from other band members, most notably the bass player and the drummer.

The songs, promoting their new album, Havens Dumb, were beautifully presented but were very 'wordy' and intellectual. Their lyrical content was very strong, and sometimes provocative and confronting, but so dense that it became difficult to keep up with the complex narrative being presented.

The overall feel of the show was very laid back and rather gentle, which began to gall after a while. The songs are so contained and constrained that I began to feel for the musicians, who seemed to be prohibited from expressing themselves by the tight leash of Richards's writing. It was all a little too controlled and orchestrated and I found myself wanting to hear the players actually 'play'. I have no doubt that they are all very capable musicians, as there were brief moments of commendable musicianship slipping through from every player on the stage, but they could only wander so far before the tightness of the arrangements reined them back to heel.

The audience was such a mixed bag that I couldn't help but wonder if some of them had come to the wrong gig. Men and women in their later middle years were seated next to young things of less than a score of summers, but a surprising number of both groups seemed to be more than familiar with the material presented to them, to the point of quietly singing along and applauding the instrumental introductions to songs that they knew. Perplexing.

There were a few technical issues on the stage involving instrument tunings and audio fold-back, but the audience forgave all, as old friends do, for that was what they were. After an hiatus of several years, Augie March were back on an Adelaide stage, and they were welcomed back as friends by a loving and delighted crowd.

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