You Am I + The Strokes

Newtown Theatre, Sydney, Australia, July 26 2001

Arrive at the Newtown Theatre 7pm. Long day at work, and it looks as though I'm in an old school hall. Yep, I'm told, this is correct. Stage at the front and wooden floors for the rest, and that's it. Plus 200 punters lined up for an early start.

Even though they're not topping the bill, kind words have to be said for New Zealanders Fur Patrol - check 'em out of they're ever in your neck of the woods. A rocking start to the night, a Kiwi lass leading the charge with Chrissie Hynde's voice and Joan Jett's moves. Given the absentees (finishing that report due at 9am, presumably) their enthusiasm was overwhelming.

Right. I've heard from everywhere including these pages that The Strokes, hailing from NYC, are THE NEXT BIG THING. Certainly they've been getting enough airplay in Australia as well. And as they walk on stage, if nothing else, the schtick is right on the money - cheap suits, a big swagger, and rough hair (is that Bob Dylan on bass?)

Describing crowd reaction tells a tale. Everyone has heard the EP, this being before the full length album 'Is This It?' was released - so when one of these three songs play, it's time to shake the booty. Other than that, the audience just stare straight ahead (apart from the compulsory roar at the end of each song, to signal that they are GETTING IT).

"Hey," says my friend. "Every song they play sounds exactly the same." And it's true - 3 chords, a wall of noise and a snarl at the crowd. So who else comes from New York? The Ramones? That's absolutely correct! The Strokes are definitely NOT a band to see in an indoor venue.

In an alternative universe, You Am I are the band that Australia has exported to the world (who would you like to see replaced? Savage Garden? Midnight Oil? Kylie? All three?) Never averse to a goddamn rock festival, tonight's selection is a mix of very old (Cool Hand Luke, Forever & Easy) and very new ('Get Up', 'Kick a Hole In the Sky') and even the odd cover (Neil Young's 'Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere') thrown in.

This is the rock show you want: lead guitars tearing against each other, plenty of rock star posturing, and rhythm and swing from the man on drums - that, and the crowd getting questioned on everything from their loyalty to their parentage. And five hours later, a sweaty mass of people staggered onto King St and began the long journey home.

Ian Stalvies

Rumour has it that You Am I & The Strokes will be touring Europe together in November 2001. Not to be missed.
In the meantime Ian recommends you grab You Am I's album 'Dress Me Slowly'. He seems to be quite keen as he even provided us with a link to where it is on sale on the Tower records site.