It's been a relatively steep upwards trajectory for grumpy Melbourne quartet Something for Kate: from interviews in Return Of The Punk Guy to double page spreads in Rolling Stone. Amazing what good management can do for you. That's not to say tonight's near sell out crowd at the Hi-Fi was undeserved - far from it. Latest single Electricity is a finely crafted piece of songwriting, and frontman Dempsey has a fine ear for twisted slow-moving guitar lines and tender lyrics. What is lacking is a presence. Earlier in the week SFK said audiences tended not to indulge in physical activity at their gigs (i.e. "get pissed and mosh"). Perhaps they should. Halfway through the set Dempsey asks "Are you alright out there?" following up with "...just wanted to check - the usual Something For Kate gig where no-one's moving." It's a moot point, but a big audience is arguably going to feed off a band's energy, and when SFK stand for the most part checking out their shoelaces, the audience ain't going to be too inspired.
This would have been called "grunge" five years age. We want live rock action, boys (and girl), or at least a bit of banter. Otherwise SFK will stay a fantastic studio band and a dud live. Apparently the name comes from a phrase Dempsey scrawled on a pad by his phone. What was that something? Maybe it was the band's sense of humour. Lighten up, fellas.
- Dougal Robertson