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Photo – Daniel Boud

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Praise for DIRTY THREE

“Dirty Three are my favourite live band. No contest … I think it’s because they don’t have a singer … There are three musicians working together, one no less important than the other and well, you can get lost in all that. Their music washes over you and you’re away … When I watch them, they ignite something….They’re utterly unique and absolutely world class.” – Nick Cave

“Every time I see the Dirty Three, they make me cry.” – Cat Power

“I remember when I first heard Dirty Three, they were like nothing else around; an instrumental band with a violinist who played like Hendrix, and epic songs that tore at the very fibre of your being.” – Zan Rowe

“Their songs, you know, maybe saved someone’s life. They’re one of the world’s greatest living bands without a shadow of a doubt … it speaks straight to your heart.”  – Jen Cloher

“It’s impossible to find flaw with the performance, though its x factor is something collectively felt. A kind of accruing, song by fiery song, of irrefutable proof as to how truly great this band is.” – The Guardian

“For two hours, Dirty Three were the greatest band on any planet in any universe.” – FBi Radio

“Instrumental rock that touches the heavens and plumbs the abyss – such is the metier of the Dirty Three” – Mojo

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Let’s get the negatives out of the way first.

It’s a long time since we’ve seen a gig at Fremantle Passenger Terminal, and perhaps there’s a reason for that. Long, narrow rooms are a terrible choice at the best of times, but stages close to the ground are a great way of ensuring no one under 6ft gets to see a thing. Whether it was the height of the roof or other less flattering reasons, the venue was a total fail.

Unfortunately, promoters Fremantle Arts Centre have form in this area. Their stage in the Front Garden at the Arts Centre itself is perfect for sit down Sunday picnics, but when Sharon Van Etten played two shows there in 2022 to a standing room only audience, it was nearly impossible to see anything if you weren’t in the front few rows.

The cavernously long sold-out show opened curiously early for a Saturday indoors, with Northern Territory support Eleanor Jawurlngali an exciting addition to the bill for those there at 6:30pm. Joined by a cellist, of note was singing in her native language, while a rendition of Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” accompanied by picked strings had us all calling “Power!” in an uplifting closer.

The Dirty Three came onstage in amusing fashion for an instrumental post rock act, with Boz Scaggs’ “Lido Shuffle” pumping through the speakers. But then, the D3 aren’t your usual live band.

Punctuated between songs by frontman Warren Ellis’ surrealist banter, we were welcomed by three songs from upcoming record “Love Changes Everything” before the wild 12-bar blues of “Indian Love Song” ripped our heads off with a rabid distorted violin solo.

Ellis was in fine, fine form. “It’s good to be out of the east!” he exclaimed before a note was played. “Fucking hell, the west is the best, I’m happy to be with my people. We are The Dirty Three and we fucking love you.”

And fucking hell, it was good to have them back. As we perched on tippy toes for a view, Ellis reminded us his time manning synths on recent Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds albums wasn’t a waste. His piano playing was an atmospheric highlight early, bringing to mind fellow Australian weirdos The Necks.

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Photo – Katelyn Slyer

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Much looser both musically and personally than we get to see him with the Bad Seeds, this was the Warren Ellis show. At his most random he borrowed a belt from the crowd due to forgetting his own; reminisced about the time he partied too hard with Perry Farrell and woke up alone on the beach, rescued by a Freo local (we’re thinking it was the 1996 Big Day Out headlined by Porno for Pyros); and repeatedly urged us: “Let’s wake up David McComb!”

While the late Triffids singer was an obvious object of affection throughout, Billy Joel copped an absolute roasting. Following a completely nuts rendition of “I Remember a Time When Once You Used to Love Me”, it all started when Ellis asked the crowd what they’d like to hear. It didn’t take long for someone to yell out “Everything’s Fucked!”

This led to a dream-like monologue “about finding yourself in a hole; a really big hole.” For fans of the band, this has been a moment to rejoice for some 30 years now, a rambling introduction to one of their best songs that is sure to amuse and inspire in equal measure.

But even by Ellis’ standards this fanciful story about killing Billy Joel only to find yourself in Boston with Joel alive and well, manning a hotdog wagon, and “You May Be Right” is soundtracking the misadventure as you finally realise “Everything! Is! Fucked!” was the uniting crowd moment of the night.

It could have gone all night. Even at 2.5 hours, Ellis was complaining by the end when he had to “fit a 20 minute song into 10 minutes” during the encore. Thank David McComb they were allowed to go overtime, lest we may never have gotten the full majesty of perennial set closer “Sue’s Last Ride” for Ellis to conduct us through. Part madman, part utter genius: it was a finale for the ages.

“Remember you are never alone with The Dirty Three!” was his parting sentiment as we were left scratching our heads to take in what we’d just seen.

From Jim White’s lead drumming, to Mick “The Ayatollah of Rock N’ Rolla” Turner’s hypnotic rhythm guitar; the 10 year wait for a less than perfect venue, to an epically generous night of music; and of course the many shades of Warren Ellis in his lyrical, emotive playing and storytelling, across a set with no lyrics; life’s contradictions were often front of mind.

The fact it still had gig of the year contender written all over it says something about the power of the band.

4.5/5

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Dirty Three live

Friday, 14th June
RISING @ Hamer Hall, Melbourne SOLD OUT

Saturday, 15th June
RISING @ Hamer Hall, Melbourne SOLD OUT

Sunday, 16th June
The Forum, Melbourne ^

Tuesday, 18th June
Canberra Theatre, Canberra

Wednesday, 19th June
Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul*

Thursday, 20th June
Enmore Theatre, Sydney*

Saturday, 22nd June
Fremantle Passenger Terminal, Fremantle^

Monday, 24th June
Hindley St, Adelaide^

Wednesday, 26th June
Odeon Theatre, Hobart^

Friday, 28th June
Tivoli, Brisbane^

Saturday, 29th June
The Green Room, Byron Bay^

*Support by Laura Jean

^ Support by Eleanor Jawurlngali

Tickets on-sale now at feelpresents.com

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Stream / Download ‘Love Changes Everything II’: HERE

Pre-order / Pre-save Love Changes Everything: HERE

DIRTY THREE
Love Changes Everything

1. Love Changes Everything I
2. Love Changes Everything II
3. Love Changes Everything III
4. Love Changes Everything IV
5. Love Changes Everything V
6. Love Changes Everything VI

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Follow DIRTY THREE
Facebook – Spotify

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Press Release 27th May 2024 (below) HERE

DIRTY THREE
share the second instalment
from their forthcoming album
LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING
out 14th June

+ National tour
begins next month

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AMNPLIFY – DB