Which is why I found it somewhat surprising to see just three band members shuffle onstage and launch into opening track Dimension. Where was the caped keyboard player, trio of guitarists and entourage of small hobbits that surely accompany prog rockers of Wolfmother's ilk?

Okay, I jest and clearly Wolfmother are able to realise their musical ambitions in the pared down trio format. On record that is. Live, however, I couldn't help feel that their stage presence and sound was somewhat lacking in comparison. Sure, the band's loud, but singer and (sole) guitarist Andrew Stockdale is required to be both Page and Plant, something which is almost impossible for two people to replicate, let alone one.

Yes, he's got the shock of bubble curls, the Geddy Lee-timbred vocal cords and more than adequate axe-wielding capabilities but he lacks the preening narcissism that the likes of Justin Hawkins have onstage, and I couldn't help but miss another guitarist to flesh out the sound. Occasionally bassist Chris Ross would turn to the keyboards to do exactly that - however, in doing so, sacrificed his bass playing in the process.

That said, there were a number of pure rock moments: the debauched letchery of Woman has the spirit of classic Led Zeppelin, the colossal Colossal is Black Sabbath meets stoner rock, and the unashamed pomposity of Mind's Eye is admirable in its execution. However, there's also a fair amount of filler, especially the tune-free, ahem, 'soundscapes' which permeated some of the song's intros. Come on guys, you can do better than that.

The audience (seemingly largely made up of fellow Aussies - or was that just by the downstairs bar?) gave a nonetheless ecstatic reception and the distinct impression that Wolfmother's brand of retro prog is very much in the ascent. Let's hope they can ride out the current hype and develop into the calibre of live act from the bands whom they so obviously take their cue.

  share with:  Facebook | Digg | other sites