Pommies On Your Stereo

Supergrass
The Forum, Melbourne

WHY isn't music always this fun?
It's not like Supergrass are a joke band. Far from it. Their latest album is pumped through with the sort of churning riffs and insidious hooklines that bands like Radiohead and Mansun should kill for. The chirpy quartet (let's not forget Gaz's brother, Robert, on funky keyboards) love to rock out live - throwing in any number of false endings and beefed-up power chords into songs like "Caught By The Fuzz" and "Late In The Day". It's just that they're so mischievous about it. So a storming version of "Jesus Came From Outta Space" finishes on a peculiar keyboard motif which recalls the old Hamlet cigars advert music; the centre-section to "Moving" recalls nothing so much as ace Seventies TV show "The Bionic Woman"; "Pumping On Your Stereo" speeds up and slows down as Danny goes into overdrive; and the awesome "Richard III" boasts a great bird-like sound, pecking away through the distorted guitar.
This, undoubtedly, is A Good Thing.
Equally fine is the light show. During a full-on guitar solo in the electrifying "Strange Ones", the massive cut-out of the boys dangling above our heads starts to look almost 3-D, such is the brilliance of the white light surrounding it; for "Alright" the lights are light sunbeams breaking through clouds; during the acoustic "It's Not Me" both Gaz and bassist Mickey Quinn look trapped in cages of light. Indeed, Mickey begins to look increasingly haunted as the night wears on, his harmonies sounding somewhat suspect on a number of songs. Not that it matters. It just adds to the band's general charm that not even such obviously accomplished musicians can be note-perfect.
Melbourne, ever appreciative of a decent pop tune, loves Supergrass. The kids go mosh-crazy during "Mansize Rooster" and "Sun Hits The Sky", Danny looking the very spit of mentalist Who drummer Keith moon as he thrashes around at the back. Gaz says a few words all night, perhaps a little overawed by the audience's reaction, but it doesn't matter. The music more than speaks for the man.
On the sly, Supergrass have pulled off quite some trick. there aren't many other bands around who've managed to mature so gracefully while still retaining so much of their original, brash spirit. Supergrass have gone from juvenile musical delinquents to being one of Britain's finest rock bands, full stop - and it's impossible to see the join. Supergrass rule.
4½/5

MICKEY QUINN'S VERDICT BASSIST
"We're just as frantic onstage nowadays as when we started, even if we do sometimes get pissed off. Danny is more controlled than he used to be. He's probably even better, because he's still very entertaining to watch. that's why I stand with my back to the audience - I'm watching him. Australia is a great country to be in."

Everett True, Melody Maker - 07 March 2000