I was saddened to hear the news this morning that Grant McLennan, singer and songwriter for Australian band The Go-Betweens, died yesterday. I was mostly oblivious to the band during their first incarnation, when they took the UK by storm and were hailed as one of the finest bands to come out of this country. In April of 1999 McLennan toured Australia with fellow Go-Betweens leader Robert Forster as Forster & McLennan. On the 28th of April Russell Farr dragged me along to a show they were putting on at the Greenwich, a tiny and rather seedy bar located in the basement of His Majesty’s Theatre in downtown Perth. The duo ran through a string of Go-Betweens classics like “Head Full of Steam”, “Cattle and Cane”, “Spring Rain”, and the sublime “Streets of Your Town”. It was powerful, funny, moving stuff, and one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. I’ve followed them through the three reunion albums which peaked with last years wonderful Oceans Apart, and have come to love their music. Six years seems to have slipped by in no time at all. Vale.
I didn’t realise that you’d pretty much missed the Go-Betweens the first time around. For me they were one of those staple Australian bands in the 80’s that I’d catch on Countdown and (heaven forbid) Hey Hey It’s Saturday. In the 90’s Grant McLennan did some great solo work (as G.W. McLennan) as well as Jack Frost, with Steve Kilbey (two of my favourite Australian acts rolled into one).
I remember that gig well, still have the poster I took from the wall on my way out – they held off playing ‘Cattle and Cane’ until the very end, what was it, the third encore?
Oh my gosh, I’m sorry to hear this. The Go-Betweens never quite hooked me, but McLennan’s Horsebreaker Star is one of my favorite pop albums ever.
Well, that’s bad news JS. Funny how only a few weeks ago we were exchanging emails about the greatness of the Go Betweens.
Russell – Yeah, that gig was my first exposure to their music. I’d seen copies of the albums around when they came out, but they made no impression at all. I’d had a copy of McLennan’s Firecracker, which is why I was kinda interested. I guess I must have ignored the on Countdown etc. An amazing show.
PNH: I’ll have to check out Horsebreaker Star. I’d not responded to the Go-betweens either, but that concert did it for me. The greatest hits, Bellavista Terrace, is pretty essential.
Al: I know. Life is full of these weird, unexpected correspondences.
Damn. Great band. I dive for his memory.
Very sad to hear about this… the guy seemed like he had a lot of great music still in him.
I loved the Gobees, and also second Patrick’s recommendation of Horsebreaker Star… great album.