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Live Review: REVIEW: Lee Ranaldo @ The Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

24 October 2012 | 3:00 pm | Joshua Daydream

As a packed art factory stood nodding their heads and tapping their feet in anticipation, the curtains opened and there he was… Lee Ranaldo

Kicking the night off were PONY FACE a three piece hailing from Melbourne, guitar w/fx, drums and bass (bass player jumping between bass and an analog synth). These guys have a real ‘90s alt nostalgia weaved through every melody that engulfed a very responsive audience lapping up their beautifully detailed tunes. 

Every track so simple yet so brilliant, a grooving bass and solid drums and a noisy, fuzzy, octavious guitar drenched in feedback... the guitarist also playing with a looper and a handful of effects achieving some great tones. What the crowd thought was going to be the last song of the set Disco Cops, upon finishing was echoed by shouts for more.

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As a packed art factory stood, swaying to an fro, nodding their heads and tapping their feet in anticipation, the curtains opened and there he was… LEE RANALDO. After listening to every record from this guys former band on repeat, it was really cool to see him live.

From the new record, Off The Wall opened the set in grandiose style; one of the godfathers of noise rock standing on the stage mere meters away… Picturesque and highly poetic lyrics, for which Lee is known and those Fender Jazzmasters, he even got the violin/cello bow out. Blissful.

Ranaldo interacted with the audience a lot talking about occupy Sydney, occupy Wall Street and telling stories about when he was younger. Super nostalgic, each tale brought light to the forthcoming song. With what some may call the epitome of the ‘90s alt rock sound Ranaldo and his band tore through the set with tracks from the upcoming record, a cover of  Talking Heads Thank You For Sending Me An Angel and two old favourites Karenology and Genetic.

After a quick intermission / end of set type deal, the band was back for their encore which included new track Stranded and a howling wall of feedback and fuzz to finish things up… a great way to end a great night.

Words by Joshua Daydream