…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead @ The Manning Bar, 14th August ’15

Strolling on stage tonight to the nostalgic strains of INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart, AYWKUBTTOD were about to embark on their own trip down memory lane.

This band has been churning out their edgy brand of rock for two decades now, an admirable achievement that is indeed the very reason for this Australian tour.

With twenty years under their belt the instrument swapping Texan math rockers quickly set about taking us on a veritable “best of” excursion through their prosperous career. With sentimentality high on the agenda recent album IX was for the most part relocated to the back burner as the oldies were rolled out one after the other.

‘Will You Smile Again For Me?’ and ‘Heart Of Wires‘ are unleashed early as the band’s exciting live reputation is quickly lived up to. At the centre of things charismatic frontman Conrad Keely is the undisputed lynchpin belting out songs with a gusto that demands respect.

At his side Jason Reece (three months sober, we are told) and Jamie Miller alternate effortlessly between drum and guitar duties.

From a theatrical perspective though, elongated bassplayer Autry Fulbright II steals the show with perpetual windmilling that almost propels him airborne. Bending over backwards into a full C shape without missing a note, a career as a contortionist awaits should he tire of the four string.

As one might expect tracks off Source, Tags And Codes stir up the strongest crowd reactions as ‘Homage‘ and ‘Relative Ways‘ are rapaciously devoured by the Friday night crowd before signature track ‘Another Morning Stoner‘ sees the night hit it’s towering pinnacle.

As the show draws to a close the guitar tech finds himself on stage handling bass duties as Fulbright joins Reece to create a four armed drummer as the chaos ascends.

Throughout the evening AYWKUBTTOD were everything you could want from a live show: intense and professional whilst never losing the sense of fun that got them rolling in the first place. There’s no doubt that as good as they are on record it is up onstage where they are truly in their element.

Photos: Benon Julius William Otto Koebsch

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Gavin Stocker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Outside of Across The Ocean Gavin Stocker writes, records and performs music under the moniker of P Truck.

He can also be found clinging to his youth on a skateboard or wandering aimlessly through the bush.