_{Murray Bennett photo.}

The Stems
+ New Christs
Manning Bar, Sydney
Saturday, August 30, 2024
Photos: Tony McNamara unless otherwisde credited.

Shows by The Stems are reverential experiences, And for good reason. The band’s membership is scattered over two coasts of Australia and gigs don’t occur often. When they do, you know they're going to be something worth bottling.

What’s the special sauce? It’s Dom Mariani’s timeless pop songs being delivered by top-shelf players who have a chemistry that can only come from most of them playing together for years.

The foundation is Mariani on guitar and vocals, drummer Dave Shaw and bassist Julian Matthews, with a guitar foil of Ash Naylor (this tour) or Davey Lane, who are both ubiquitous and gifted in equal measures.

As far as recordings go, The Stems have not been prolific, with just two full-length studio albums since 1987, so it’s all about the quality and not the length. Their first LP, “At First Sight Violets Are Blue”, was a fully formed pop classic, and the 2007 “follow-up”, “Heads Up”, was substantial in its own right, although is not as well-known.

_{Dom Mariani under the Manning Bar lights.} 

The Stems have they been active for all of their 40 years, with big chunks of DM3, Domnicks, Majestic Kelp and Datura4 action filling out Dom’s dance card,

So, they’ve never worn out their welcome.

Last weekend’s Sydney show was the penultimate gig of a quick-fire Australian tour before the band sets off for Spain and Italy.

The 960-capacity Manning Bar had put out the House Full sign a fortnight earlier and by 7.30pm the queue of ticket-holders waiting for the doors to open stretches around the block.

Sole support the New Christs appear on stage to find a room that’s packed tighter than a Scottish hippie’s bong. It’s a contrast to shows in the ‘80s and ‘90s when they (well, Rob,) bemoaned their lack of a live following. Mind you, Sunday night at The Excelsior was a less daunting space to fill.

_{New Christs Rob Younger and Paul Larsen.}

Customary opener “We Have Landed” breaks the ice and the ride starts. It’s good that people are in early. The crowd’s rewarded with a set that’s as contemporary as it can be when a band’s last album release was a decade ago. 

Younger is in ridiculously superb vocal form despite the rigours of the spicy cough that he contracted at the end of Radio Birdman’s farewell run. He’s still sotto voce on the between-song patter, and it’s worth mourning the many comedic gems have gone through to the ‘keeper down the years, with only bandmates and stage crew appreciating their true worth.

_{New Christs guitarist and keybaordist Brent Williams.} 

And about the band…they haven’t played since November last year and they’re razor sharp in spite of or because of it.

“Like a Curse” is a surprise inclusion. ”Heading South” locks into a satisfying groove. No “Born Out of Time” this time out but “The Fall of Rome” is welcomed back with open arms.  

Did the set really go for a full hour? It flies past with no filler and underlines the deep well from which the band can draw. I know Rob has a lot of record collecting still to do but it would be nice if they added to the New Christs’ back catalogue with another long player before they hang up their collective cross.

The Stems could take the easy route and base their set entirely on the first record and early singles. The selections are almost evenly split between “Violets Are Blue At First Sight” and “Heads Up”. The new single, “Falling From The Sky”, is prominent and there are some stinging covers to fill it out.

Opener “Leave You Way Behind” puts things squarely in the 2000s while the next part of the set tugs us back in the ‘80s, with a superb “Just Ain’t Enough” crashing into the sublime “For Always”.

_{Julian Mattthews in full bass flight.}

It’s a killer trip thereafter with The Stems making it look easy. Jules Matthews has the Kenny Rogers look down pat these days (thanks Mick!) but he ain’t no coward of any county with a bass tone that’s right up there with Peter Oxley. His partner in engine room-ness, Dave Shaw, doesn’t drop a beat (he may beg to differ but that’s how it seemed to these by now well-lubricated ears), and that’s despite a roadie jumping up and supplementing his feels with added percussion fills.

It really is a joyful set from a band having a great time. The early songs don’t lose anything for the absence of keys with Dom and Ash indulging in some fine guitar interplay that peaks when “Make You Mine” segues into “Baby Please Don't Go”.

Mr Naylor even gets to take the mic for the MC5’s “Shakin’ Street” which is a left-fielder that probably won’t make the next Church set. The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” is a more predictable inclusion in the final bracket which spans two encores. “At First Sight”, a take on The Monkees/Paul Revere and the Raiders’ (you chose). “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone” and “Love Will Grow” fill out the extra-time.

_{The monent when Ash Naylor remembers that he left the iron on in the dressing toom.} 

It's probably a reflection on their vintage rather than a reluctance to leave but the exiting crowd seems to be lingering, despite much of the contents of the merch table being vacuumed up long before the fulltime siren being blown.

No blaming anyone because nights don’t come much better than this. Spain and Italy really are in for a treat.

1. Leave You Way Behind
2. Just Ain't Enough
3. For Always
4. Surround Me
5. Move Me
6. Falling From the Sky
7. Get to Know Me
8. Tears Me in Two
9. Mr Misery
10. Never Be Friends
11. Shakin' Street
12. Get So Bad
13. She Sees Everything
14. Make You Mine / Baby Please Don't Go
15. At First Sight
16. I'm Not Your Stepping Stone
17. Love Will Grow
18. Day Tripper