Bluebottle Kiss, Screamfeeder, Flat Stanley @ Jive, Adelaide 8/11/2024

If you wanted to hear new music in the 1990’s, you just had to listen to radio station Triple J. While other FM radio stations were starting their “classic rock” formats, most of which continue today, Triple J gave us bands and music we had never heard before. I first heard Smells Like Teen Spirit on Triple J, got into Nick Cave, Even, Cruel Sea and many many others, as my CD collection spiralled out of control. Bluebottle Kiss and Screamfeeder were also in that category of a staple Triple j diet of music.

Now, thirty plus years since both bands formed, we have them playing a triple header, along with Adelaide’s own 1990’s band, Flat Stanley, at Jive. Life is good.

First up were Flat Stanley, who formed in Adelaide way back in 1992 and they received a hero’s welcome from a large patriotic crowd, who had turned up early to catch the band. They started with a couple of tracks, My Ideal Suitor and The Great Unknown from 1997’s Intravaganza album. The band worked their way forward to 1999 with The Forbidden Dance and a great rendition of Susan Brown. Being a band from the 1990’s, and this being an evening all about the 1990’s, it was naturally all about guitars. The band members swapped lead vocals song by song. Flat Stanley finished with a couple of newer songs in I Grew Old and Check out the Sellout. I have seen the band a couple of times before and they always delivered. This was no exception and the reception they received at the end of the set confirmed this.

There was only a short break between bands. As Flat Stanley loaded out, Screamfeeder loaded in. They never left the stage once completed, just a quick nod, a rumble of bass and the band fired into Above the Dove. It was immediately noticeable the volume had gone up a notch or two as well. Tim Steward (guitars, vocals) looked resplendent in his black Tee shirt proclaiming “No music on a dead planet”. Screamfeeder play fast and furious as ifteen tracks in well under an hour showed. They covered most albums from 1993’s Burn Out Your Name through to the latest Five Rooms.

Feedback introduced Dead to the World and Late to the Party followed, before Tim announced “It’s been, like, ten years since we have been here.” The songs are short, but not lacking musical credibility. Kellie Lloyd on bass often assumed the role of lead singer as the songs progressed. Needles, Deirdre and Bruises followed each other quickly.

Sushi Bowl, with its ebbs and flows had the crowd in a frenzy down the front. Static, Bridge Over Nothing and Dart, all from 1996’s Kitten Licks album closed out the set before, naturally, the band came back for Hi Cs. “We want you all to sing this loud with us” and sing the audience did.

“We are back” Jamie Hutchings of Bluebottle Kiss told us to loud applause. “Thanks for coming”. A very energetic Claim opened proceedings, which led to Tap Dancing on the Titanic. Things then got a bit heavier in Outside are the Dogs and a beautiful guitar break in To Think I’d Ever Disappoint You made it one of the best songs of the evening.

Ben Fletcher commented “The last time I played this song I had a flanny on. No, not this one I have on now, a different one” before the band played Rust and The Time. Things slowed a little for Ounce of Your Cruelty and an acoustic guitar was bought out for Return to the City of Folded Arms, a song apparently about audiences in Melbourne. No folded arms here in Adelaide.

The band went from last century to this century with two songs from the 2004 album Come Across, in Gangsterland and a wonderfully melodic So Slow.

But it was the set closer, Ice on the Road (Taken on a Trust) that stole the show. Starting off as a slow burning, blues infused song, it ended in an extraordinary, Neil Young inspired freak out some ten – twelve minutes later. Perfect!

First encore song, Hasten the Blows retained a bit of the Neil Young sound, until it moved into familiar Bluebottle Kiss territory. Everything Begins and Ends at Exactly the Right Time in fact ended everything, at the right time.

It may have been a beautiful 1995 inside Jive but reality hit as we exited out into the harsh 2024. Bluebottle Kiss had disappeared from the scene for fifteen years, but they had given us a glimpse this evening of just how good a band they were, and indeed, still are.

Live Review By Geoff Jenke