GIG: THE STEMS
The garages dotting the dusty backyards of 1980s Australia must have exuded some heady fumes. From them, Hoodoo Gurus, The Sunnyboys, Triffids and lesser-known but probably more seminal The Stems all pumped out raw and seething sounds, high with youthful optimism and perhaps a snifter of gasoline. Taking their musical as well as nominal cue from classic 60s garage rockers The Seeds and The Leaves, The Stems blazed a brief yet brightly burning trail from 1983-87 (including their Rolling Stones top 100 album of all time, 1987’s At First Sight Violets Are Blue) until they ‘mysteriously’ disappeared without a trace. Or not so mysteriously, as band member Dom Mariani confirms. “It was tour fatigue. The band started the fracture internally.” He announced his plans to quit, and when management didn’t offer any alternatives he, “Stormed out and didn’t talk to them again for ten years.” Their return to the stage in 1997 and then 2003 surprised them all – audiences included. The response was overwhelmingly positive. From a few local shows in Perth to South by Southwest, and sharing a bill with The Boss, Bruce Springsteen at the behest of The Sopranos’ Little Steve (who was a big fan), The Stems’ star was certainly on the rise – again. But Mariani says, “From the moment we reformed to play reunion shows, each tour felt like it could be the final one. Great crowds, great offers … but it’s come to the point where we’ve done more than what we wanted to.” And at their final ever farewell show, they’ve got nothing to prove. “We’re just going to play, and keep playing till the lights turn on!”
Sat Oct 10, 7pm, supported by Mick Hadley, The Boobytraps & The Snoozefests, Notes Live, 73-75 Enmore Rd Enmore, $27.75-52 (with dinner), 1300 762 545 or noteslive.oztix.com.au
