Originally published on Merge.com.au 18.12.09
"I think we're going to be alright", exclaims Jarvis, after tapping and "checking the stage for strength" with what looks like a home-made sticky-taped staff. Suited, booted and adorned with his famed thick specks, Jarvis Cocker sauntered onto the stage of Adelaide's The Gov with all the commandeering nature of Dumbledore.
Playing to a modest crowd from a corner stage, Jarvis' tour Down Under promoting his most recent release, 'Further Complications', got off to a start that was rich in distortion and bass, with album opener 'Angela'.
All the enigmatic air and charisma that is on offer from Jarvis Cocker was in abundance tonight. To wit: every lean extremity of his body was wiggled, shaken and gyrated to the sounds and beats of his latest repertoire. Crowd-pleasers included 'Homewrecker!' - a song riddled with saxophone and heavy on the drums. A perfect noise-fest to which the audience were encouraged to imagine every sax note was smashing over the head of monster media-mogul Rupert Murdoch. That's one way to get the Aussie fans on your side, but Jarvis need not try. With knees that look like they could cut glass and a voice so roughly coutured, these Adelaidians were caught up in every inch he moved during this 2 hour set.
Amp troubles at The Gov gave Jarvis his cue to give tit-bits of his time in Adelaide's Cleland Wildlife Park: "I stroked a koala today.. on the lower back, mind", as well as handing around Dairy Milk and a swig of his whisky... to the joy and appetite of his onlookers.
Some inevitable downtime was had with the self-descript 'Slush', and 'You're in My Eyes (Discosong)' which, although good on disc, both paled in comparison to the steamy, sweaty kicking and screaming luster of 'Fat Children', 'Black Magic' and 'A to I'.
If there's one artist who makes age cool, it's Jarvis. Looking nothing short of a history teacher, ironically the personality couldn't be further from the stereotype. Jarvis' presence is envied by all those who see him. The 'banter round your mates' vibe with musings between songs offer up plenty of laughs from the crowd, ensuring a quality performance all round. Finalising the 15-strong set with 'Running the World', the simplistic piano drifting into an epic singalong is pure, unadulterated magic. There's no complication in Jarvis, and he's no cookie-cutter performer. All hail JC.
