The full-house lights were up early at the Swanbourne Hotel for the CD launch of the External’s second offering, Anastasia’s Hand.
With that ‘ol summer party atmosphere filling the warm night air I took my usual Externals viewing position – against the back wall and as far away from the usually-lethal noise level as possible. But hoorah! My earplugs were not needed as a perfect mix heralded a quiet External introduction to the eve.
Singer Tony Moffit worked the crowd as though he knew them all, bringing both the grungy croon and Oz pub rock out in everyone present. Lyrics were mouthed and arms raised (um, not those arms) as the lads powered through both their messy thrash and some really impressive, well paced rock numbers.
Slower songs like Birds of a Feather and Anastasia’s Hand, both off the new EP, were tasty and powerful. Sometimes the distinction between their new material and their old material was jarring, but as their traditional reliance on the guitar solo retreated the quality soared.
I can see a lot of summer nights being spent with the Externals by the folks at Friday night’s gig. Sometimes we forget that salty, suburban rock makes the world go ’round in Perth, Western Australia.
Adam Connors
