Review: Nick Corr / Photo: Thomas Glenn (Custard Appreciation Society)
Custard Live – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne – Saturday 12th November 2022
It was something of a Nineties alternative rock reunion at Brunswick Ballroom on Saturday Night,
Melbourne’s Trevor Ludlow and The Hell Raisers kicked things off with a short but enjoyable set. Led by Trevor Ludlow, formally of Brisbane bands The Melniks, Biro and Gentle Ben and his Sensitive Side; Trevor also co-wrote the Custard’s ‘Girls Like That (Don’t Go For Guys Like Us)’. Joined by Jane McCracken on bass and backing vocals and Pat Bath on drums; the trio interspersed skewed guitar pop originals like ‘Golden Hour’ and ‘Baby It’s You’ from their 2021 release A History of Albanian Jazz with surf guitar instrumentals.
Melbourne guitar pop trio Moler were next up, lead by the snarling purr of Helen Cattanach on bass and vocals, joined by guitarist Julien Poulsen and drummer Mike Glenn (ex-Hoss). Blasting through a short but very loud set that including ‘Shopping Trolley’ from their 1996 debut EP On Special, 1998 single ‘Red Light Disco’, a great cover of The Runaways ‘School Days’, and closing with ‘Call Connect’ from their 1998 Delicious EP.
Brisbane’s Custard kicked things off with a ‘Hit Song’ before running through a set that covered their whole catalogue from 1990 debut single ‘Rockfish Anna’ to open the encore, “Bedford” from the 1992 Gastanked EP, through to ‘Funky Again’ and ‘Cat Called No’ from their most recent release 2020s Respect All Lifeforms.
As usual with Custard, the show was equal parts guitar pop and comedy from front man David McCormack – tonight including an extended reference to TISM trying to sabotage the evening’s performance and copping blame for any bum notes or other mishaps. Music highlights included a slower tempo run-through ‘The New Matthew’ from 1999’s Loverama, and ‘Piece of Shit’ from 1997s We Have The Technology. A ripping cover of The Go-Betweens ‘Lee Remick’ in the encore, before closing with ‘(I Feel Like) Ringo’.