Underminers – Album Launch
With the last strains of the secret Pixies show all but soaked up into the Northcote Social Club’s beer garden, Ballarat-based duo Underminers launched their latest album Beyond The Stars to an eager and well-attended Friday night crowd.
Vocalist Justin ‘Hap’ Hayward, former frontman for The Dead Salesmen, and long-time collaborator Chris Morris were joined by a rhythm section that complemented their stripped-back sound perfectly. In a night of understated introspectiveness, the group performed tracks off the new album including “Self-made man” and “Remembering”, with a few old favourites such as “1999” from their previous release, Let’s Get T-Shirts Made.
The perfectly subdued band volume allowed the intensity and delicateness of Justin’s vocals to shine, especially in the track “Stand For Something” as he declared, “The real estate agent bleeding in my basement / the bank manager in the boot of my car / this crawl has gone on way too long / I declare the fight is on”.
Given their infrequent gig schedule , it’s unfortunate that most people this year will probably hear more of Leigh “Devine Homes” Matthews than the catchy tunes and insightful musings of the Underminers.
