Andy J Ryan Apr 26, 2023

Underground Lovers – Annandale Hotel, December 4, 2009

The original line-up played together for the first (well technically second, as there was also a secret warm-up show in Melbourne a few weeks back) time in 15 years on the eve of their Homebake performance.

Shows like this are really just a privilege to attend. While the term “underrated” is often used about the Underground Lovers, they were far too interesting and musically evasive to ever become too popular. A chance to see them live at any stage was a rare treat, let alone almost nine years after they split. It really doesn't matter what is even played; just having the opportunity to hear the songs again live is enough. A heck of a lot of people had the same idea, as the Annandale was jam-packed.

The band certainly weren’t treating the show as a mere loosener; they had the full five-piece band supplemented by samplers and keys, while behind them a range of ever-changing patterns and stark visuals were projected, and Vincent Giarrusso up front seemed to be enjoying it more than anyone as they ripped into ‘Eastside Stories’.

The Underground Lovers were so brimming with musical innovation and inspiration throughout their career that while the set mainly covered the band¹s first three albums, it was still a diverse array of sounds.

The slow atmospheric crackle of ‘Ways T’Burn’ flowed into the wistful Phillipa Nihill-sung ‘I Was Right’ before taking detours into more meandering electro-tinged territory and the droning ‘Takes You Back’ with an almost-“funky” version of ‘Your Eyes’. They showed their delicate side with the sparse and haunting ‘Holiday’ with Nihill again on vocals, and brought forth their more rollicking side with a robust, guitar-firing rendition of ‘Promenade’.

The only hint of the length of the hiatus was a slightly groggy ‘Some Sweet Mourning’. ‘Las Vegas’ was lapped up as an encore, so much so that certain sections of the crowd prematurely hooted and hollered through the song’s silent lull, much to Giarrusso’s disappointment, who was hoping “to hear a pin drop”.

Then, with the indecision over what song to close the night with prompting a few fake false starts – including ‘Khe Sahn’, ‘My Sharona’, and most teasingly of all ‘Losin’ It’ – their softer finale could almost be considered an anti-climax.
Regardless, it was magnificent to have them back and it’s no mere nostalgia act when the songs are this timeless.