The one thing that Placebo always does right in order to put on a successful gig is book the Inner West’s Enmore Theatre – an intimate venue with the best acoustics I’ve ever heard.
That being said, it takes two to tango.
The sound that erupts from the trio and their band is the pure, aural manifestation of sex. Master song-writer and front-man Brian takes center-stage, shying under a single spotlight, fingers working his guitar like a lover under his thrall. His voice bleeds bedtime stories of love and hatred; the eternal pendulum of life and love. Darkness and oppression theme their latest album, Battle for the Sun, but the only thing that hits me front and center is their overwhelming success.
Each chord smashed out from his guitar; from the bassist; from the drummer behind him; each bleating lyric pulls at me, every nerve electrified and thrashing in the restraint of my flesh. I look around and there isn’t a free soul in the house. We are all completely, hopelessly seduced, men and women alike, entranced by the spell these musical libertines have woven.
The serenade hits crescendo after crescendo, swinging from whimsical to outright rock in seconds. Like my partner beside me, the wells of my eyes overflow with emotion, and I lose all control of my body as the entire auditorium stands up and overthrows the hushing attendants bleating at us to take our seats. We move as one, fluid, pulsing organ, each successive note puppeteering us til the very last encore.
One hit of Placebo is never enough, and we leave feeling used – but content – lighter on our feet, darker in our hearts, and with an odd craving for a cigarette…
I need another taste. Placebo, tour again soon.
