Live Review: The Church, New Brutalists

Warming up for the iconic Australian band The Church are relative newcomers New Brutalists.

Setting the scene for the rest of the night, they provide some great indie tunes with broody bass. What the duo lack in stage presence they make up for in appreciative banter for the legends that will play afterwards.  

Oxford Art is playing host to a slightly older crowd than usual, and the space packs out for the much anticipated second act. Heralding the arrival of their 25th album, this tour sees the band’s usual line-up changed, with Ian Haug (formerly of Powderfinger) on board to partner founding member, Peter Koppes, on guitar. 

Their stage presence is electric.

The Church swagger onto the stage and Steve Kilbey drops a truth bomb — for those who didn’t know already – they are only going to play their new album Further/Deeper. Their stage presence is electric, and each new song is bookended by quick changes of multiple guitars and basses, including a twelve-string at one point. These guys know their craft. 

Most of the crowd is digging the new album, but some are disappointed with the lack of familiar tunes. Maybe The Church could do a greatest hits tour next – but being the sonic trailblazers they are, it might not be their style.

Oxford Art is playing host to a slightly older crowd than usual.

The first few tracks are good, but nothing we haven’t really heard before, however the enthusiasm of the crowd partly makes up for that. Stand out songs include Let Us Go and Miami (it turns into a seven-minute jam session with some righteous harmonica), which alongside the rest of the album, are unleashed with great passion. Further/Deeper is proof that The Church continue to be musical innovators, and that while being seasoned musicians really counts for something, curiosity and commitment to sound goes a long way.

They round out the night with a classic – Don’t Look Back – which (though short and sweet) is a real crowd-pleaser. It's still great to see these legends live, and hear that Kilbey still killing it.