Cut Copy songs are perfectly structured, pristine electro-pop gems. The melodies and choruses seem to have been birthed fully-formed and sound so familiar even on the very first listen. It’s the mark of brilliant songwriting. So maybe that’s why it didn’t seem to matter that the concert on Tuesday was a by-the-numbers run through of most of their (excellent) material off their 2008 album In Ghost Colours, with very few genuine surprises
As a band, Cut Copy don’t wow. First of all, the singer admittedly is fairly hot, but nothing that matches up with the intensely smooth sultriness of his voice. It’s incongruous and somewhat jarring. Not that you can really hold that against him, I mean that voice is just so sexy, suave, and sophisticated it’s not really a surprise. Also, the band seemed to all be wearing the exact same shirt, and they were all too baggy and also sweat-sodden. Come on guys, image is important! Not much of a stage presence to speak of either but they weren’t terrible, probably a passing grade. No major moves or anything, mainly just stuck to their spot and played. Although how much was them and how much was the backing track is debatable, especially a suspicious bass that seemed to have no discernible impact.
It wasn’t that type of gig though. No one wants to see Cut Copy in some small basement club improvising a tune, or rambling off about some tour story for ten minutes. Their songs feel like ‘big’ songs and they feel like a ‘big’ band, that kind of loose jammy stuff is just not what people came to see. The show was a communal listening experience, hearing songs you know and love together in a big crowd and loud and with the band almost close enough to touch. Judging from the rapturous expressions there essentially watching ‘Cut Copy – the video’ was more than enough to satisfy everyone. It was enough to satisfy me too.
Marcus O’Sullivan
