When I got the word that The Nation Blue and Blacklevel Embassy were playing a show together at The Espy front Bar, I was stoked. It was on my side of town ie: this side of the river, and two ace bands were playing. Double whammy.
So the stage was set. Blacklevel Embassy had been off the live scene for a while since their departure abroad to record their debut album with Yank producer Bob Weston from Shellac. They recorded the album at Electric Audio, which is where Steve Albini, also from Shellac, recorded Nirvana’s In Utero. Rockin’.
With a humble welcome from the band’s axe man, they launched into their set with a fiery angular explosiveness that shook the foundations of the front bar. Combining aggressive guitar playing with a tight rhythm section pulling off odd time signatures all covered in a loud fuzzy bass and two angry men screaming in unison, Blacklevel Embassy almost punish their audience with a brash assault of the senses. It’s rock music in 2006. It quietly comes up behind you when your guard is down and then it smacks you in the face like some bad April Fools gag gone wrong.
Look out for their new album but in the meantime go forth and take it in.

Having been to the Espy Front Bar as a muso and punter on hundred of occasions I’m all too aware that by the time the headlining band takes to the stage, the schedule is totally out of wack. While 12:45 am seems late enough to the Horlicks generation, the head count at the front bar confirmed that Beer, Rock n Roll and partying were the sure order over some powdered malt drink. The Nation Blue are so good that we’d wait till about, ohh, say 1:15am. Sure, why not.
Having seen this red hot trio play the night before at The Prince of Wales, supporting Cog on their recent tour, I was well in the mood to too hear some more fucked up rock music closely resembling a war zone.

With a mellow intro, The Nation Blue launched into Bossanova featuring a brooding intro that occasionally sounds like its being played backwards.

As Dan Mckay switches from concert mallets to sticks, the volume explodes and war is declared. The kids up front are moshing like it’s 1991 and Tom on guitar duties swings his axe up and over his back as it feeds and squeals like a rabid animal. Mat screams into the mic while fists shake like they’re attached to political activists.
The Nation Blue move from one song to the next with a master touch of cohesion and finesse that is so hypnotising you can’t help but be drawn to it.
Having supported Foo Fighters on their recent tour, The Nation Blue demonstrates sheer power that relentless, honest and passionate.
The set list flies by. Idiot finds the crowd shouting the lyrics in unison while Damnation celebrated their genius take on noisy disjointed madness. And as the last song draws to a close, White Noise, Tom throws his guitar over his shoulder. It hits the roof and almost rips heads off. While Tom may have incurred some battle scars from his swinging axe collecting his forehead, no one else is injured.

While so much of the rock n roll that we are force feed these days is manufactured and watered down by accountants and C.E.O’s, tonight’s evening of music reminded us why we love loud live music. It’s free and liberating and it makes us feel good. No clichés, haircuts, hired groupies or hallmark chorus anthems. This is the real shit and if you don’t get that from your night out, throw down your cards, walk away and come forth to the next show. Your’e more than welcome.

 

Whiskey Ago-go.

 

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