Sun Dirt Water

The Waifs are one of my favourite bands and last night, despite a shocking cold, I ventured out to see them play live once again.

The Waifs are true musicians and they have an easy-going stage presence. Last night Donna spent much of the show bantering with the crowd, telling us why she was in a bad mood (the airline had lost her sister Vicki's luggage so they'd spent all day shopping); how she was jealous of Vicki (because the crowd goes wild whenever she pulls out the harmonica, plus she gets to sing all the happy songs); and how she hoped their new album would be a success because Josh still didn't have a roof on his house. She also took the unusual step of claiming not to particularly like one of the new tracks they'd just played, suggesting it was "music to clean the house to".

I've seen the Waifs play a few times now, and they always put on a good show. But last night's gig was a little flat. It was perhaps partly because they played a lot of new material which the crowd wasn't familiar with. This is fair enough, especially given these are warm-up shows before the release of a new album in September. Additionally, from the stage banter, I gather the trio had just landed after a long-haul flight from somewhere and were suffering the numbing effects of jet-lag. Vicki apologised for the "funny gig" and jet-leg with a "it's not your problem". Perhaps next time they need to give themselves a day or two to recoup before they play.

But the biggest problem with the gig was the venue. And not only because I was charged $5 for a 350ml bottle of water. It was the wackiest music venue I've ever been to. And I don't mean wacky in a good way. The band are playing four small gigs in the lead up to the release of a new single (Sun Dirt Water) in August, followed by a new album in September. The gigs are meant to be intimate affairs for true fans. Last night, at the Factory Theatre in Enmore (which is miles from anywhere, mind you), the gig was anything but intimate. The venue was like a cross between an RSL and a reception centre, with chairs set out theatre-style so punters took their seats and stayed in them. It was the sort of place I'd expect the piano accordian trio from Grandad's retirement village to play. The room seemed only half full, which was a blessing and a curse. It was great because it meant we were able to sit down (on comfy couches, with a great view of the stage, yeh!) but it also meant the gig lacked atmosphere and the crowd passion. At one stage Vicki commented that it was "a bit like a conference, almost". And she was right. I can't help but think the band must have been a bit taken aback by the reception to their new material, especially as this was their first show spruiking it. I can imagine the gig at the Corner will be much more passionate and exciting.

And the verdict on the new tunes? The band has apparently spent much time in the US over the past couple of years and it shows in their music. The American influence in their bluesy-folk was apparent and in some tracks so obvious were the derivations that I wondered whether they were pulling the piss. Equal measures of upbeat tracks (sung mainly by Vicki, much to Donna's chagrin) and slower ballady types made for typical Waifs material. Of course a few old tracks (Highway One, Lighthouse, London Still) were thrown in for good measure, as was a new interpretation of Without You which has also been included on the new album. I'm a big fan of the Waifs, and I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt after last night's show. I look forward to hearing the new album and seeing them play again in a few months time, at a better venue, when they've hopefully put the live polish on their new material.