After a five year absence from the OZ tour scene, James Mercer returns with a new edition of his industrious indie act The Shins to wince the night away.
The Shins
In the indie rock annuals, The Shins, based in Indie Mecca, Portland, Oregon – have created a linage of being capable of presenting dislocated love lorn ballads adjacent to fist pumping power pop. Pulling an impressive crowd for a Monday night, fans crammed into Melbourne’s Festival Hall for a tight 90 minute set, comprised of classical favorites along with new material from the act’s recent release Port of Morrow.
Given adequate support by local wonder-kids HUSKY, a group steeped in the sound of the Shins, Mercer and his new team of musicians opened the show strongly and the fourth song in the agenda was the eponymous Australia, which was greeted with audience fondness. A fondness for our fair land does seem evident within the band as well, as later on a conversation occurred in-between songs as to just exactly when some of the members should move down under and where they should live when they arrive.
Material from Port of Morrow was the main focal point of the show, evidenced by the massive illuminated album cover art displayed at the back of the stage. The album, which has also been five years in the making, following on from their 2007 LP Wincing The Night Away, was recorded throughout 2011 with band leader Mercer handling all songwriting duties, lead vocals and the majority of instrumentation.
This iteration of The Shins performed together remarkably well, with old Songs like Kissing the Lipless sounding fresher than ever with a slightly tweaked arrangement. New works that popped included Simple Song, It’s Only Life and Port of Morrow, these tracks sprung to life under an impressive light accompaniment assisted by Mercer’s fragile vocal work. The standout was the opening track from the three song encore, with the acoustic based September, eloquently reminding every member of the audience Mercer’s grasp on lyrics that perfectly surmise the emotive compilations of modern love.
Although Mercer is the sole remaining original member, this new strain of The Shins lives up to the acts illustrious indie rock pedigree and one only hopes that it doesn’t take another five years for a visit from Mercer and his band of merry melancholics.
Zak Hepburn
