‘We should have written out our set lists like these smart people’
‘Wait – let me get our songs up on my phone’
Perhaps this exchange best typifies local garage-rock duo Ross de Chene Hurricanes more succinctly than I will in the following review. The pair, comprising of Mark Doman (guitar and vocals) and Justin Kuchel (drums), flaunt a sloven appearance – replete with the ubiquitous dirty jeans and uncouth hair, visual indices of the slacker-garage aesthetic. And despite (or perhaps, because of) their inability to produce a set-list, even on the evening they are launching their debut 7” single, they exude a charm and frivolous nature which is sadly lacking in many of Melbourne’s revered bands.
Admittedly, and perhaps, embarrassingly, Saturday night at the Worker’s Club was my first introduction to Ross de Chene Hurricanes , whose debut 7” has just been released through the Geelong based Anti-Fade Records . As an emerging label, Anti-Fade Records , have forged a reputable discography through releases from The Living Eyes , The Frowning Clouds and acclaimed garage wunderkind Useless Eaters . Ross de Chene Hurricanes seem an obvious fit for the label, with their enchanting blend of early Ty Segall adolescence and structured pop-sensibilities. Clearly, judging from the size of the crowd that has amassed here tonight, this formula has struck the right chord with punters.
The opening act for the night (well, in fact the second support – I unfortunately arrived too late for the Drunken Poachers ) was label-mates Chook Race . In speaking about their set, I should offer this perfunctory caveat – it is incredibly difficult for me to remain objective when speaking about this band. I have been infatuated by their scuzzy-pop – informed by a symbiotic relationship between classic American r’n’r and Flyning Nun (yeah, you guessed it) darlings, closer perhaps to The Great Unwashed than The Verlaines . Tonight they sounded impeccable – treating the audience to cuts from their most recent cassingle, Power Nap , as well as older tracks from their superlative self-released debut 7”. Chook Race are continuing their ascension to one of Melbourne’s most underrated bands – and hey, I’m always a sucker for a great rolling bass line, which these guys have in spades.
By the time Ross de Chene Hurricanes hit the stage the band-room is packed. The guitar-techs in the crowd may have already spotted the Roland RE-201, commonly known as the Space Echo, resting above the amp. And if my covetous nature wasn’t appeased by that, Dooman ’s handsome Rickenbacker certainly does the trick. Launching in to tracks from the release they are spruiking tonight, such as ‘The Jailbird’ and ‘Dirty Floor ’, it is apparent how much their equipment informs their music. Their take on the blown-out Nashville garage sound, with its primitive four-four rhythms and repetitive simplistic guitar riffs, should draw comparisons to underground American artists such as Bad Cop and D. Watusi . Eddy Current Suppression Ring have also obviously played a great role in influencing the duo – they even go as far as to blatantly replicate the opening riff from ‘ Which Way To Go ’ (luckily, their offering is quite good, and they tender a caveat to the song before playing it, informing the crowd of its origins). While the garage influence is clearly evident in their sound, their songs are tightly controlled, keeping their psych-leanings heavily imbued with a more controlled pop sensibility. While this approach sometimes comes off as tedious, Ross de Chene Hurricanes write such ‘universal’ pop-hits as to dissipate any lingering criticism.
Ross de Chene Hurricanes are probably not the best garage band in Melbourne. And that’s fine. The garage revolution happened years ago, and for many, the sound is too anachronistic and limited to ever hope for another paradigmatic shift. And that’s fine too, because we need music that is structurally stable, and in which pleasure is driven from the bands personal idiosyncrasies. That’s why Ross de Chene Hurricanes work – their take on garage will not set the world alight, but as characters, they are one of the more interesting bands in Melbourne to watch. And sometimes music prowess reigns supreme over people. Real individuals. It’s great to see the Hurricanes reclaiming garage for the larrikins.
WORDS BY James Webster
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