Venue:
Factory Theatre, Sydney
Date: 25/05/2024
The Clouds (used to be staunchly just ‘Clouds’ back in the day) were part of the early 90s boom in Australian alternative music. The taste-making Sydney radio station 2JJJ went national so young acts’ reach broadened dramatically and the record companies were on board. Clouds, Falling Joys, Ratcat, You Am I were all bands I was seeing at Sydney Uni’s Manning bar one day, then watching them climb up the charts the next, straight into the Metro, the Hordern, then into the RSLs in the suburbs.
This was great show. Led by the harmonies of Jodi Phillis and Trish Young, with angular Pixies-style quiet-loud dynamics and interesting chordal moves and jumps. An intermittent 4 album career but many of the bangers drawn from their Penny Century album.
I’d never been to the Factory Theatre before. A small to mid sized room in Marrickville (our [slightly] left leaning PMs stomping ground and electorate) which has of late been increasing in its gentrification and hipsterfication, so a nice few drinks at the pub beforehand.
The audience:
Given the nature of the band’s line up, a refreshingly female friendly vibe, lots of polite interactions when moving through the crowd.
It made me think..
…of quite a few friends no longer with us that would have loved it.
The Clouds were great and I saw them many times here in Brisbane. Penny Century was their best album, but I seem to recall that their pinnacle was an EP/Mini album that came after (octopus?). Haven’t heard them in years so will fix that today.
I could have sworn I went to their absolutely last, never to be repeated, truly wuly final concert (well, the Adelaide one) a year or two back…they played the entirety of Penny Century in reverse order.
Those of us who were elsewhere in the 90s knew nothing of this mob, but they are really very good.
A reflection since the gig:
Really heartening to see a room full of 50+ year olds in a standing venue still loving music, looking cool, growing older but still culturally engaged. Yes, nostalgia played a part, but this was far from a pipe-and-slippers affair.
20 odd years ago I vowed never to see Sting again because of the smug seated ambience of the occasion – it was ‘entertainment’. Admittedly Clouds are a different type of music, but great to be part of affirming and passionate gig. Was agreeing with friends afterwards that being ‘old’ in 2024 feels different to being old in the 1970s, say.
I saw the two ladies play for free on the footpath outside Gaslight Records in Bourke St Melbourne one perfect afternoon.
It was excellent, the three other spectators and l really enjoyed it.