Live Music Review: Evil Eddie @ X&Y Bar
Friday 25th February 2011
Words: Betina Dale
Evil Eddie kicked of his first East Coast tour away from Butterfingers in his own stomping ground of Fortitude Valley at the X&Y Bar. As soon as the doors opened the place was descended on by an eclectic mix of fans from young to old.
While the support bands warmed up the crowd with their almost Rastafarian-inspired grooves, Evil Eddie mingled among the growing audience, happily chatting to the punters. As the smaller area in front of the stage started to fill, the onslaught that is Evil Eddie was imminent.
The writhing crowd spared no lung capacity in making him feel welcome on his home soil. Even with only one single and no EP released yet, the crowd were right into it from the first song. A host of new songs were belted out. The energy onstage between Evil Eddie and his live counterpart SpitfireLiar was intense, as every move was mirrored by the other in perfect harmony that could only be compared to something as strangely hypnotic as synchronised swimming. Each of them bouncing off the other band members and continuing to up the ante.
The new release song “Fuck a War” was unveiled on the Evil Eddie website to fans a few days before the first show and received an outstanding reception. And with true Evil Eddie style (ringing true from his Butterfingers days), the show consisted of songs and lyrics that were brutally honest, undoubtedly catchy and very very tongue in cheek. Another crowd favourite was the song “De-sex your Ex”. And as the punters grew more wild, a Cypress Hill cover was what tipped them over the edge as they sung along and jumped in unison.
Butterfingers were far from left out with songs like “Yo Mama”, “Figjam”, “Hook Up” and “Get up outta the Dirt” making an appearance. This obviously pleased the crowd who proved that a number of them have followed their nose from Butterfingers to track Evil Eddie in his solo endeavours as well.
But what really brought the house down was Evil Eddie’s first single (number 86 in Triple J’s 2010 Hottest 100), “Queensland”. There was cheering, chanting and jumping and also plenty of arse shaking… especially during the line “Show your back to us // Shake that Gluteus Maximus // Hey!”.
With Evil Eddies stage presence combined with his contagious energy, he is surely on the fast track to becoming a force to be reckoned with in the very near future. Lookout for his debut album tentatively titled “Welcome to Flavour Country”.
You can catch Evil Eddie playing in Queensland on Saturday 30th April at the Runaway Bay Tavern or On Sunday 1st of May at the Caxton St Seafood and Wine Festival in Paddington.