26: Enough of the Sweet Talk

Turning 26 well and truly cements the fact that I’m an adult. I’ve been old enough to vote for a fair few elections, I’ve figured out what types of alcohol are gonna make for a good night, and I have a consistent income that I can’t figure out how to accumulate into a fortune. I spent the weekend of my birthday trying rhubarb with parsley ice cream, making my friends dress as Scooby-Doo characters and verse me in air hockey, and enjoying Greek food by the water instead of dealing with a stolen car. All of this chaos and good food and great company culminated in me sitting alone outside of the Riverstage at 3pm, waiting eager and exhausted, to resolve one very important problem with the Australian music scene.

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A few months ago, Brisbanites were shaken by the discovery that one of their own had become involved in a case of plagiarism. The victims in the case were Ball Park Music, a group of local legends whose extensive discography of genre-defying music has paved the way for their national adoration. In a video released to the band’s socials, lead singer Sam Cromack makes allegations, supported by damning evidence, that elements of their song have been emulated by the electric Leimbach brothers for their popular and elusive band, Lime Cordiale. Through unconventional conflict resolution practices, the two bands decided to settle the accusations and resultant animosity and tour together.

I was fortunate enough to see their final Australian show in Brisbane on the night of my 26th-birthday. As an avid fan of live music with a special appreciation for Ball Park Music, the same band who held my very first concert a decade earlier, this was a special experience. Turning 26 means the close of several chapters of my life, but I’m excited to begin the new work now with my first live music review of the Enough of the Sweet Talk tour.

This is The LayMusic – one layman’s perspective of the Australian music scene. I’m an industry outsider, an avid fan, and I’ve spent the last six months in anger that we don’t support our own enough in this business. But I’m going to so many gigs and buying so many CDs and t-shirts that it’s hard not to share how spoilt for choice we are in this country, with so many awe-inspiring bands, singers and varied musical acts that I hope some of these words will inspire you to get a ticket for them next time you see them passing through on tour.

Without any further ado, this is what happened at Lime Cordiale’s Enough of the Sweet Talk show at the Riverstage on October 13th.

Aleksiah

I was lucky to see Aleksiah earlier this year, supporting Teenage Dads on their Majordomo tour. To say I was glad to see her on this line-up is an understatement. Aleksiah is a star on the rise, with a great collection of songs showcasing the range of her ability. While she has a few soft and sweet numbers in her set, her best moments are in the energy-building pop-rock songs you’ve already started to hear on the radiowaves. Aleksiah is a great opening act for now, but watch out because she’ll be selling out her own shows before we know it! She’s definitely one of those artists you’ll wish you knew before they got big.

Fave song: Getting Older

Ball Park Music

The tension was palpable tonight as Ball Park Music hit the stage. For their keenest followers, there was a hunger to hear the new sound the band has been hinting at on their socials since they started touring. We’ll be waiting in suspense for a bit longer, but who wasn’t satisfied with a set list consisting of some of the band’s greatest hits? As a support act, those high-energy, best-known songs – think Trippin’ the Light Fantastic and I Feel Nothing –  were crucial in working the crowd up for the main act to follow. However, that doesn’t mean we didn’t get some sweeter samplings in there too, with the unreleased Like Love creating a special moment between Cromack and his 9000-strong audience. Ending on an emotional high with Cherub, we enjoyed the slow build to that explosive yet sentimental finale that leaves a crowd in wonder at how music can elevate the spirit so much.

Fave song: I Feel Nothing

Lime Cordiale

For my birthday present, I gifted myself a VIP experience to this show! It’s not something I’ve really been able to do before, but I loved a sneak preview of the set in a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Oli was eager to chat with the group during soundcheck, while I was more interested in seeing the process of a performance rehearsal. I admire musicians so much that I end up being intimidated when I do get the chance to shoot my shot and ask a question, share my favourite song, or grab a selfie. The band looked so comfortable with themselves on-stage that I was questioning if they even needed to have soundcheck in the first place.

Fortunately, Louis was quickly humbled by a microphone malfunction during the opening song of the set, proving once and for all that despite doing everything you can to prepare for a show there’s always something waiting to go wrong. The band recovered quickly and were good to go for the rest of the night, showcasing the majority of songs on their latest album with a few of their massive hits from previous projects sprinkled throughout. The energy in the crowd was palpable. From the opening notes of Pedestal, the band wove its way through a few newer releases: Facts of Life, Enough of the Sweet Talk, and Imposter Syndrome. While fans rejoiced at the beloved cover of the Divinyls’ I Touch Myself, many of us were left wondering when exactly we would finally get another Like A Version from the band to add to their future touring sets.

Having a sister myself, it’s all too relatable to see a sibling tiff grow into a full-blown battle. What began as an easy little bit of crowdwork by Oli asking his side of the venue to cheer became a competitive match, with Louis and Oli roping in their sides of the adoring audience to scream the loudest in support of ‘their’ brother. Unfortunately, the spat got out of hand and midway through the concert a (dance?) boxing match of epic proportions broke out with bassist Jackson McIvor roped in to act as referee. After a tense bout of shadowboxing, Louis prevailed – a fantastic result for his punters on the right side of the crowd. A simple premise for engaging the audience, but executed with a healthy dose of larrikinism that made for a memorable intermission from the band’s hits.

With the crowd invigorated by the match, the brothers went on to deliver an explosive final half. We were appeased with a three-song encore and it was truly a regret to see the night come to a close. After a smorgasbord of colour, light and sound to fully enrich the senses, it was hard to stumble up the hill to the merch desk instead of clinging to the barricade hoping for more. There’s no rest for the wicked though, as the brothers are immediately whisked on to the New Zealand leg of the tour, while I’m left considering if I should quit my job and follow them on the road for another taste of that musical extravaganza. There was so much flooding the brain that I might have missed it, but I’m pretty sure I heard mention of ‘our tour next year’ by Oli Leimbach. Can I get my ticket now?

Fave song: Colin

Merch

At this gig, I received a VIP tote bag that included an enamel pin, flag, patch, lanyard and tag.

I purchased Who You Are When You’re Not Performing EP by Aleksiah, Enough of the Sweet Talk CD by Lime Cordiale, and a Lime Cordiale pin. Missed out on the kazoo though!

Sounds Good?

While you might have missed this tour, definitely keep an eye out on Lime Cordiale’s socials for any upcoming announcements in the next year. While you’re there, give Ball Park Music a follow so you can see what they’re up to and check the link in Aleksiah’s bio to her upcoming Australia tour. You might also enjoy:

Teenage Dads – These guys have a similar manic, performative energy that adds spice to a show, as well as a great discography to dive into.

The Rions – Another band with that Northern Beaches vibe, The Rions have previously received mentorship from and been a support act for Lime Cordiale, so if you like the Limes, you’ll probably like The Rions too – luckily they’re touring soon so check out dates and locations on their website!

Ocean Alley – Another band with a beachy, 'too cool' sound, you'll remember them from their stellar performance in the 2018 Hottest 100. With some festival dates coming up soon, you might want to snag a ticket now!