Live Review: The Fall

When: December 9th 2010

Where: The Hi-Fi Bar, Brisbane QLD

Punk isn't a sound. It's an attitude. It's an ethos. It's the way one carries himself. The Fall are a punk band. Prestwich's finest, Mark E. Smith, is the essence that binds The Fall together with his sharp witticism and crass approach, but his continuous cobbling together of seemingly nobodies who he passes off as his band is nothing short of astonishing. A rhythm section that could be mistaken as members of a nu-metal band [Dave Spurr and Keiron Melling], a drop dead stunner in Elena Poulou on keyboards (also Smith's better half), and a guitarist who wouldn't look out of place assisting young couples finding their dream home, as a real estate agent [Pete Greenway].

The Fall fans have their own ways of throwing it about, too. You can pick a Fall fiend from a mile off. They have a certain aura about them. Receding hairlines with baldness just around the corner while a spot of moon bathing isn't to be ruled out, either. It's a sophistication that you can smell a mile off. The early birds to this Thursday night encounter are about the average age of 45 and to be perfectly honest, I feel like a bit of a piss ant in the presence of this lot, who may have been on hand the last time The Fall toured our shores all those moons ago.

The fact that Mark E. Smith is actually in Australia after the apparent contempt he previously held (or probably still does?)  is a minor miracle. Your Future Our Clutter continues the renaissance that The Fall are currently experiencing, now with their last three long players certainly among the top end of the spectrum of their discography. After support act Dave Graney "shook the frost", it was time for the sordid assault  to commence. Mark E. Smith is the last member to amble out on stage looking like one languid individual. He took pleasure in accumulating pain on his band members, fiddling with guitar amplifier volumes, trashing drum cymbals and screwing around with the keyboards while he delivers a tirade of words during the opening title track, 'Theme From Sparta FC', 'Bury Pts 1 & 3', 'Chino' and 'Cowboy George'.

Fall Heads Roll highlight, 'What About Us', is also a nice surprise as Smith rambles on about a rabbit in East Germany over rocking riffs that the album is consistently associated with. 'I've Been Duped' - probably the most pop orientated song The Fall have done since The Infotainment Scam days is also a good head bopper with its zany keyboards to accompany the Sterolab eqsue vocals of Elena. The Sonics Cover in 'Strychnine', also continues to be a Fall mainstay amongst their live artillery while 'Muzorewi's Daughter' represents the band's early body of work [Dragnet], with gritty pleasure.

Amongst the apparent old rockers convention were a slither of youth who probably went along to see what all the fuss is about, with their parents' pocket money in tow. A few drift away shaking their heads in dismay, obviously missing the whole point of what The Fall truly is. I think a lot of us are still trying to work that out, but that's the grandeur this band has to offer and has done for the best part of 30 years. Smith wouldn't give a flying fuck about any plaudits. If he did, he'd have jumped ship in the '80s and continued to work as an office clerk, shifting paper and necking cider during his lunch break. However, it has to be said; if he lived in somewhere such as France, he'd be a National icon and not just some misconstrued jumped up old Northern fogey "trying" to sing as it's perceived by the masses. As they say; maybe you have to endure the rubbish to truly admire the "good stuff" and The Fall are certainly that and so much more that it's just not funny. 

Words by Simon K