Project Description

SHAME

at The Tote

8th February

(Live Review)

by Chelsea King

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I was having a post work nap on Thursday when my housemate woke me. To think I almost missed seeing Shame’s Laneway sideshow because I was sleeping. I quickly grabbed my things and ran to the Tote, no time for dinner of course when you’ve got a date with South London’s Shame.

A. Swayze and the Ghosts were walking on the the stage as I was walking into the venue. I haven’t seen many bands from Tassie but if they’re all as good as this, then I’ll have to book a flight to Hobart.

Another well hyped band of boys, this time from NSW, Pist Idiots followed with more noise, but everyone was hanging out for Shame. It was a breath of fresh air to hear an accent distinct from the familiar Aussie slang that the Tote is accustomed too.

I knew Shame were going to put on a show, but I was not prepared for their commanding energy. The band had probably played three songs when lead singer Eddie Green removed his shirt, already visibly dripping with sweat. This was followed by several mumbled comments about the pale boys not quite yet being accustomed to Australia’s weather. One of the members even attempted to subtly strip off his trousers in-between songs and continued to play in his underwear (or should I say, knickers).

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Shame only just released their debut album. It is already apparent that they are committed band, going no where but up. I find myself wishing that they were from Melbourne, so I had a chance to watch them grow as a band, and follow them around all the local pubs. Unfortunately this is only Shame’s first headline show in Melbourne and I am confident that it will be another year or two until they return. Their Australian tour (if you can call one show in Melbourne and one in Sydney a tour) is swamped in comparison to their 23 dates across North America.

As Eddie dives on to the crowd for maybe the third time I wonder how this show is not sold out; it has components that Melbourne’s crowds love. Their conversational songs make me feel like I’m back in a house party in the outskirts of London, the close proximity of the crowd replicating a squishy and overpriced city apartment.

I’ll keep this short and sweet, in honour of a punk band that is, naturally, straight to the point. If you didn’t catch Shame while they were in Australia you really missed out.

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Photo by Guillaume Kerjean

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AMNPLIFY – DB