Bottom of the Hill
September 21, 2001
Review by Squid
Hands down one of the top shows of the year! (And not just because Squid is a salivating, hysterical, unapologetic Kiwi music fanatic.) The Clean played to a packed house and reminded us why we do this night after night. The Kilgour brothers' jangly moody guitars and gorgeously cracking snare had even the most staid of our indie pals nodding their heads appreciatively throughout. Throw in The Bats man Robert Scott on bass and you had one insanely perfect threesome. The New Zealand trio were heartening proof that some bands really can stay together for twenty years and still sound sharp and contemporary. Or...perhaps they were so far ahead of their time that indie music is just now catching up with them? Whatever the logic, the audience couldn't get enough, refusing to leave until they were awarded with not one but two encores. Our usually jaded sf_indie audience...showing enthusiasm? The latter encore even featured "Tally Ho", the single that launched Flying Nun records. There were also several rounds of "that frat drink with the un-pc name" to keep us happily blotto. What a night. Long live The Dunedin Sound!
The Moore Brothers were an acoustic duo with wet mics and a single acoustic guitar which they traded back and forth while performing songs that recalled Robyn Hitchcock (so consequently the Byrds and Syd Barrett) in both their humour and harmonies. They were a quiet act that never got heckled, even as the crowd continued to trickle in off the streets. Very impressive, especially on a Friday night when most of the city was hellbent on drinking away the workweek.
The Clean
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