The Red Paintings at the Waterloo Hotel, 19th November 2005

After a slightly-cramped drive, we arrived at the Waterloo, a giant shed/log-cabin hybrid grafted onto the rear of a wannabe-trendy bar. Needless to say, it’s not well-insulated or ventilated, but fuck-it, that just provides a constant thirst for cold scotch and free nicotine via second-hand smoke.

Three support bands took the stage, each more forgettable than the last, giving this reporter plenty of time to stand outside and smoke – none of my second-hand smoke for any of you bastards – and enjoy the fusion of sound created by the boring support band in the Waterloo, and the shitty rock band in the bar.

As The Red Paintings took the stage, the place held a small amount of scenesters and a large amount of TRP-trufans, the likes of which haunt their forums as well as their live shows. From the way that Trash speaks or refers to these fans, you get the feeling that he’s sometimes-frustrated by their antics and yet completely understanding of the sort of fervour that an original and genuinely interesting local band can instil on a populace.

The band rocked hard, as one would expect, with Trash McSweeney throwing himself around with the self-destructive abandon one can expect from a top front-man. At times you may even find yourself concerned with his mental stability, but admittedly that’s half the charm and only makes things more interesting.

Amanda and Ellie – Bass player and Drummer respectively – carry the band, laying down the rhythm and beat for the rest to follow. At this they do an exemplary job, with Amanda generally hiding off to the side of the stage, and with Ellie on her own personal ‘Shock and Awe’ campaign. To say she was the best ‘chick drummer’ I’ve ever seen – which she is – would only serve to cheapen her talent, as she’s easily one of the best Australian drummers I’ve seen, period.

Wayne Jennings and Ellen Stancombe contribute Cello and Violin, setting TRP apart from all the other rock bands currently turning tricks. They’re talented, professional and play with a subtle poise that begs you to watch them.

Also worth a mention is Lu, the band’s current artist-in-residence and a talented painter. Her painting for the evening was nothing short of incredible, and “We will not stop for time” reminds me of an old family slogan, but that’s a story for a later date.

The standout track for me, and probably many others there that night was The Revolution Is Never Coming, the song that would seem to capture the band’s musical intensity best, and serve as a fair representation of their attitude or message, if only such a thing were as simple as a single song.

When Trash sings and screams “The revolution’s never coming,” it’s easy to palm it off as just another socio-politically concerned lyricist spouting catchy slogans, but as the song slowly close and Wayne assures us, in a calm voice, that indeed “the revolution’s never coming” you almost believe him, and for a moment you’re touched by an unnameable sadness and sense of defeat.

But silly things like unnameable sadness’s wouldn’t concern you if you were a dim, over-sized lummox who enjoyed yelling out “MAD WORLD!” at every moment of silence throughout the set, despite the fact that even your minute brain would be able to recall the fact that Mad World is the song the band always close with. So what are you saying? You hate the band and you want them to hurry up and finish? Next time, just shut the fuck up.

The band, somewhat begrudgingly it seemed, closed with Mad World, their only cover and also their weakest song. Don’t get me wrong, they do it well, but there’s just not much to the song, especially when you compare it to the best of their originals.

All in all a great night, the only thing I’d say to the band about improving their shows, would be to give the visuals more importance. When I saw them play at Candy’s Apartment in Sydney, the music and the visuals both conspired to create an atmosphere so much more emotionally charged than any of the shows I’ve seen since. I want to feel that intensity again, but maybe The Red Paintings are like a drug, you’re always chasing that first high. I hope not, ‘cause more people need to reach the sort of epiphany I reached that night, and if any band has the power to do that, it's The Red Paintings.

Photos taken by Spooky Mittens and used with permission.