Live Review: Chain & The Gang, Angie

Mainstay of the Sydney underground arts scene, Angie started her set with a minimal and solo intro of synth and vocals, built on deadpan melodies and a haunting sing-song vibe. One could be forgiven for thinking that was going to be the set-up for her whole performance, but then the rest of the band arrived, the drummer kicking into a Can-style groove before the guitars descended, all grungy, dense and churning with psych-wah riffs surfing across the surface of the sludgy grooves below. There was plenty of substance to the songs, attitude to burn and disaffected cool belying the songwriting chops that Angie has brought to this project.

Chain & The Gang are an experience. More than a rock'n'roll gig (though they have more right to that mantle than most others) it's a communal blending of band and audience with call and response interaction making it a sensational garage-pop shakedown.

Ian Svenonius (Chain) has clearly studied the greatest live performers, from James Brown to Iggy Pop, David Johansen to Jon Spencer and Little Richard. It's completely over the top but it works comprehensively. Dressed in matching metallic silver suits the band exuded an aura of no-wave, blank-eyed cool, expressionless for the most part and in total contrast to Svenonius' rama-lama, wild-eyed preacher persona. All three are exceptional players, Francy Z Graham carved out minimalist ice-queen post-punk and garage rock guitar riffs, Anna Nasty provided the rhythm and roll on bass and New Zealander Fiona Campbell's drumming was tight and deceptively funky.

The between-song banter was as entertaining as the music, with Svenonius riffing on spices, Newtown Social Club wrecking balls, not being allowed to go to the beach and burying money and menstrual blood. Ultimately it was the songs that most impressed with Detroit Music, Why Not, Certain Kinds Of Trash and more, instilling a minimal, lo-fi dance party where ESG, MC5 and The Sonics ruled the roost. Contagiously fun and executed with loose perfection.