Presented by Mother Hubbard
@ Nexus Cabaret
THURSDAY 1 March (until March 3)
You know what sucks? Bringing your band over to Adelaide for the first time, to play at the world-famous Fringe, and having the venue you’re supposed to be playing at close down at very short notice, necessitating a rapid change of location. That’s exactly what happened to Melbourne seven-piece Sex on Toast, and sadly it showed, with only about 15 punters showing up for the gig.
This unfortunate beginning was compounded by technical issues that meant Sex on Toast took to the stage about 20 minutes late, and the opening number was marred by near-silent microphones. Once the problem had been sorted, however, the band soon settled in and started to enjoy themselves.
This enjoyment was evident in each song, with Sex on Toast putting on quite a show, and one that is difficult to limit to any single genre. Alternately described as yacht- or surf-rock, punk, and free improv specialists, SoT reach back in time and harness influences such as Prince, Michael Jackson and Frank Zappa to create a sound that is all their own.
With a wide array of instruments on hand, including a saxophone and bassoon, SoT were musically very impressive, with witty lyrics and nearly seamless musicianship. Opener Drive Til Dawn was uncomplicated, foot-stomping rock’n’roll, but the band soon ventured into stranger territory with Deep, an ode to, ahem, plumbing the depths of love. Punctuated by energetic drumbeats and scratchy guitar, Deep looked to be the highlight of the evening until SoT unleashed Product You Designed, a funky, fuzzy song with a darker edge, driven by vocalist Angus Leslie’s distinctive voice.
In fact, at times it seemed Sex on Toast were too good – without a musical bone in my body, there were a couple of instances when I felt like I wasn’t quite getting the joke. I’m sure there were additional layers to the intricate harmonies and arrangements that I would have appreciated much more if I was a touch more knowledgeable. However, this minor issue fades away when confronted by the band’s engagingly offbeat stage presence – Sex on Toast are probably the only band I’ve seen who offer cooking tips as part of their onstage banter. I’m looking forward to trying out their artichoke and anchovy pasta at home…
SoT’s constantly-changing line-up is comprised of alumni from several current and former Melbourne bands, including Umlaut, Mr Bungle, Project Puzzles, Combover, and Saskwatch. Speaking with Angus after the show, I was forced to admit that I hadn’t heard of any of those groups, but he was gracious enough to forgive my ignorance and provide his own take on the current music scene: “Too many bands stick to the same tedious formula of guitar, vocals, bass and drums, and you just get assaulted with the same textures for 45 minutes. We get bored with that.”
One thing you won’t be at a Sex on Toast gig is bored. The band are playing one more show in Adelaide, so if you’re cooler than I am, and you’re looking for music that’s a bit out of the ordinary, check out Sex on Toast. Mmm, toasty.
