Corner Hotel, Melbourne
January 2, 2024
Last time iconic Welsh punk band* mclusky played in Melbourne, frontman Andrew "Falco" Falkous was pretty sure it was the last time we'd see the reunited band in Australia.
(*You have to describe mclusky thusly every time you write about them.)
Thank fuck he was wrong, because mclusky remain a special proposition - they're a hardcore punk band that doesn't take itself too seriously yet is serious about being good at what it does, that is as melodic as it is noisy, that is as absurd as it is insightful, that is as abrasive as it is hilarious.
To prevent this blog from being a rerun of the above-linked review of their previous Corner gig in 2020, or to be a do-over of this article I wrote for Double J ahead of their Australian tour, I will make this gig review a run-through of the many random thoughts that went through my head while watching them play each song. Also, gig reviews are kind of naff, and I should know cos I've written a few.
1. Fuck This Band
I thought they were gonna play their seminal album mclusky Do Dallas in full, but they're starting with track 7. Ok, cool. They usually start with this song anyway, which always features drummer Jack Egglestone looking bored as fuck while playing the beat. I have a "Fuck This Band" t-shirt which is both the greatest and worst piece of band merch ever because a) it's hilarious yet b) I can't wear it in front of my children or in public or anywhere really except music festivals and I'm too old to go to music festivals.
The only place I can wear it is to a mclusky gig, but everyone does that. I prefer to wear a Muse shirt to mclusky gigs, because nobody does that.
2. Dethink To Survive
So maybe they're playing Do Dallas in a different order. Makes sense - mclusky are not a band to do things by the book.
This song reminds me of this awesome video, because it sort-of explains who the fuck Danny Baker is for those of us who didn't grow up in the UK.
I mentioned this video to Falco, and he said that he hadn't watched it but that Egglestone had mentioned it at rehearsal one day. Falco went on to say that the proposition put forward in it - that mclusky weren't loved by the likes of NME because they didn't look or dress in a certain way - was basically true.
3. Without MSG I Am Nothing
I've given up trying to figure out whether they're playing the whole of Do Dallas, because this song is off their *whisper it* equally awesome third album The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not on Fire.
This song is so good. I desperately want to know if "everywhere I look is the darkness" refers to an existential threat of some kind of symbolic darkness, or the greater existential threat that is Justin Hawkins' band The Darkness. I suspect the latter.
I regret standing this close to the moshpit holding what was half a pint of beer.
4. Collagen Rock
I really want to know who this song is about.
5. What We've Learned
Damien Sayell sings this one. He joined mclusky on bass in 2014, replacing Jon Chapple, leading to the band being called mclusky* or "mclusky" up until at least 2020. Sayell is a fucking unit - he sings this song, rocks an upside-down bass and has been known to stage dive.
6. Day Of The Deadringers
Ok, that's three songs in a row from Do Dallas, in the order they appeared on the record. What is going on here?
7. Unpopular Parts Of A Pig
The first of the new songs and it's a balltearer. Doesn't sound out of place. Falco introduces it by suggesting we go and order a Cinzano if we don't care for the new material. He also takes the piss out of The Libertines for what will not be the last time this evening.
8. Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues
One of the hits. The moshpit is going fucking nuts. It's such a wild song - like, who the hell writes songs like this? It's so great and unlike anything else ever.
9. Chases
According to Spotify, this is the least-listened-to song on Do Dallas, which is an absolute travesty. Seriously, the song absolutely rocks, and "Don't go fucking in the barn... 'cos the barn's on fire" is a great set-up and punchline disguised as a lyric. It's also excellent advice.
Falco's wife and Future Of The Left bandmate Julia Ruzicka jumps on the bass for this one, having apparently hassled Falco for 12 months for the opportunity to do so. Sayell sings it and ends up crowdsurfing for much of the song's 90-second duration. It's a highlight of the night. Ruzicka and Sayell both destroy it.
Much like they did at this gig:
10. She Will Only Bring You Happiness
I always forget this song has no bass in it. I never notice until I see them play it live, and Sayell switches his upside-down bass for an upside-down electric guitar. It's a bold move to leave the bass out of a rock song, especially a single. Prince did that with When The Doves Cry, and that's perhaps the only time anyone will ever compare mclusky and Prince.
Falco points out the absurdity of the crowd singing along to the outro refrain of "Our old singer is a sex criminal". It's so wrong, it's right. It also makes me wonder how the conversation went where the band agreed to change the lyric to "ex-criminal" for the radio edit.
11. The Digger You Deep
Another new one, and another balltearer. It swaggers unlike anything else in the set, and has these beautiful moments where the song hangs on a bent note, dangling out over the edge of a bar, before slamming back into the groove. It sounds like Future Of The Left, which is something you absolutely shouldn't tell Falco - apparently mclusky have already ditched songs from their forthcoming record because they sound more like Future Of The Left than mclusky. But it's a compliment, and let's face it - bits of The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not on Fire totally sound like Future Of The Left. This is a good thing.
12. Et Tu, Edwards?
This new song moves at breakneck speed and sounds more mclusky-ish than the other two new ones. The crowd really got into to it.
13. You Should Be Ashamed, Seamus
The verse riff in this is one of my all time favourite mclusky riffs - it sounds like something Soundgarden rejected because it was actually too awesome and they were worried people wouldn't be able to handle how awesome it was. And the ending is insane.
14. To Hell With Good Intentions
I embarrassed myself when interviewing Falco and called this song "Road To Hell", though I got the title right later in the interview. Idiot.
This is the other big hit. I can still remember hearing this for the first time on triple j 21 years ago. The Bill Hicks reference in the first line grabbed me by the earholes, and I instantly fell in love with it.
15. Rice Is Nice
Wow this song is at least 24 years old now. Sayell's on the vocals. The only song they're playing from first album.
16. The Battle Of Los Angelsea
Another new one, this time with Sayell on vocals. I honestly can't remember much about this one, but I distinctly remember wondering if it was a cover.
17. Alan Is A Cowboy Killer
A set highlight. But is Alan a killer of cowboys or a cowboy who kills? Answers in the comments please.
18. Gareth Brown Says
Falco opens this song by asking Julia to ensure their young daughter's ear defenders are on properly, and then reminds said daughter not to repeat anything Daddy says on stage in the playground unless it's really funny. Classic family entertainment, this song.
Anyway, the opening lines - "All your friends are cunts/Your mother is a ballpoint pen thief" - always remind me of this great piece Falco wrote about a job interview in which this song was brought up.
19. That Man Will Not Hang
After a short discussion between Falco and Eggleston (which is made hilariously difficult by Falco's ear defenders), Falco offers the audience a choice for the next song. Someone requests Joy, but Falco dismisses it, saying they were only going to play good songs, and the choice is an actual choice between That Man Will Not Hang and No Covers. We choose That Man Will Not Hang. No regrets.
20. Whoyouknow
Falco told me this is the only mclusky song he took into the rehearsal room already written. Amazingly, they only write songs all together in the rehearsal room. I've tried this and it takes fucking forever and no one ever has a good time and the results are usually shit. Though maybe that says more about me than anything.
This is a surprisingly good set closer. It's main outro progression is one of those great cycle of chords that feels like it could be played forever.
So there you have it. I'm sure that was far from illuminating. Three Do Dallas songs didn't get played (No New Wave No Fun, Clique Application Form, and The World Loves Us And Is Our Bitch, for those of you playing along at home, four if you count the "secret" track Reviewing The Reviewers), but it doesn't really matter does it? Because they played 20 great songs, including four new ones, the 11 best songs off Do Dallas, four songs from their excellent third album, and one from their debut record.
Here's hoping they come back with their new album.
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