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COG

Posted on June 11 2009

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Review: COG

It was early Sunday afternoon and the idea of seeing one of Australias finest, Cog, on a lazy Sunday night seemed quite the appropriate thing to do to enjoy our final public holiday for months. Quite unsure if they were playing due to their non appearance the night before for reasons unknown, already in the CBD, some investigative work to the HiFi was required. Walking the malignant streets filled with bums searching for their next meal and the scent of dead cat weeping through the air, all these elements of Melbourne are distant as it is confirmed, in some irony with a touch of ‘Bondi Rescue’ that Cog will definitely be playing tonight.

A few hours of rest and a twenty dollar hotel club sandwich, well worth it I must add, and the walk back to the HiFi for the second time seemed less of a task and more a luring journey of expectations. On arrival the sign indicates a huge night ‘Sold Out’, not really unexpected, and the usual sweaty essence of HiFi smashes you in the face instantly as you enter the main area. Its hard to think on such a cold night how this could be, I digress, unfortunately for possibly the third time I’ve missed Calling All Cars, but honestly when did bands start playing so early? Done by nine pm! I apoligise as I hear good things about these lads.

I’m always very apprehensive about writing about bands I’ve never seen live and only heard snippets of their actual music. What a revelation ‘Oceansize’ were, I believe breaking boundaries between elegance and pure brute in moments. I can only describe as watching the ‘Notebook’ but getting repeatedly stabbed in the leg. Inviting I hear you say? It was similar to the feeling I got when I saw ‘Between the Buried and Me’ last year, it was the injection of new music I was craving, a trip to JB Hifi sometime this week I think.

Unfortunately being unfamiliar with any of their songs I can’t provide the typical and arduous play by play of their tracks but can advise any folk who haven’t listened to them and appreciate something with a type of gallantry, I prefer not to use clichés such as Progressive, because really a song with epic monuments similar to the curves and lengths of a triathlon, doesn’t then characterise them as ‘Prog’. But yes this is what they do. At times quite mesmerising, vocalist/guitarist Mark Vennart has a tone that was haunting, never bellowing over the music but a pure compliment. Building peaks and troughs and their use of keys gives that touch of elegance and when you think the band isn’t really that heavy, drummer Mark Heron, out of nowhere pounds his doubles and in a venue such as HiFi it is definitely done justice. My only criticism of the set, has nothing to do with the music, but how little time they actually got on stage. Hopefully they will be back for a headline tour sometime in the future and can share more of their music with us, by then I should be up to speed with their matertial.

Cog is a band which captured me from the moment I heard their song, Run, which unfortunately they rarely play anymore, but that’s because they have so many other wonderful songs to treat the crowd with. It has been a while since I’d seen these guys indoors, as the previous two were at Peaches and Cream and BDO earlier this year were outdoor festivals, so the opportunity to hear them crisp and clean one more time before they enter the realm of writing was very excitable. I knew from the first song Doors that it was going to be a long night, a monster which clocks the ten minute mark. Flynn Gower, vocalist, did seem to have a sense of apprehension in his delivery early on but this was understandable as a man who rarely does speak and lets the music speak for itself, addresses the crowd. An apology for their non appearance the previous night, a sincerity and seriousness really felt right through, he explained his ability to deliver was just not there as his throat had to bare the weight of consecutive gigs and had let him down and the fans. He was giving his all tonight and that was quite apparent, early nerves seemingly gone his delivery was immaculate for the rest of the evening.

The bands professionalism is second to none in Australia, with enigmatic lighting which creates the atmosphere and vibe that you get from major international acts. Every song being played with a carousel of guitars that are finely tuned between each song allows for delivery with clarity that is only expected by the best. Each member has their own signature with Lucius Borich on Drums, never fails with his awe admirable charisma and bravado. Luke Gower on bass could really have been a fine substitute for the energizer bunny for his endless bobs and weaves would have made any middle weight boxer on fight night look like a joke. They play a mixture of tracks off their two major releases ‘New Normal’ and ‘Sharing Space’ and even squeezing in a song from ‘Just Visiting Part 1’.

It is apparent they have picked up many new fans with their Sharing Space release as some of the crowd at times had the look of unfamiliarity when they played older songs. There are moments through out the set when it is apparent how much the fans love this band. When they play Are You Interested, the song itself builds up so much intensity to the ultimate climax point, reminiscent of one humans other favourite activities, that even the sheer volume of the PA of the HiFi cannot mask the crowd belting out the lyrics. It was simply awesome. I rather enjoyed their creative little ending to songs such as Resonate where they now throw in a groovy little lick and also the killer break down that they crash through at the end of What if. Slight reinventions keep songs you have heard a million times new and fresh.

Interestingly it seemed like time had gone by so fast because one and half hours later they were finished. Tired and exhausted, but ultimately satisfied. It was one of those nights that was profound, it doesn’t matter how many times you see Cog, they just don’t seem to get boring or tired, more the opposite leaving everyone wanting much more. So here’s to Cog writing a new swag of songs, a tasty tought, I look forward to what delights they bring next. Cheers to one of Australia’s finest bands Cog.

Review by Jason Clair
Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne, VIC (June 7th 2009)

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MY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

My Festival Experience
Michael Franti

I remember at the Falls Festival a few years ago after we played there we got one of those little train vehicles and jumped out in the middle of night to this creek bed and went to this little revien and sat there and our eyes started to adjust to the darkness and what was creepy were these things... on the walls they were filled with these glow worms and it was the most fantastic thing... all these different colours- purple, green, white all glowing and that was the most amazing festival experience I've ever had!

When I see a band I always have a moment in show when you have an epiphone at some point when this band is kicking, or the band is about to hit a peak, or something that the drummer does like knock this bottle of beer off the stand [laughs] or something crazy when there is just this sudden abrupt thing and everyone just lets go and that’s what I love of that experience... people not worrying about the past or the future.

Ideal Lineup?
On a historical sense, definately love to have Bob Marley of course, but apart from that I really love going to festivals because you see bands that you’ve never heard of before and you know that’s how I met Blue King Brown, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, R.E.M., John Butler, The Public Enemy... throw any of those bands on a festival and it will be good but its about finding something that you never imagined.

Tips for attending Music Festivals?
My tips [laughs]... Always bring your own roll of toilet paper and the other is only look at the festival schedule if absolutely necessary... like if you know that the Black Keys are your most favourite band in the world and you need to know what time they are playing, then look at the schedule but otherwise just walk around!