Live music lovers packed into The Oak in Tighes Hill last night to see East Coast Low unleash their long-awaited third album, Badlanding.
True to its name, the record hits with the kind of turbulence and grit that have made them a must-see live act. Last night’s setlist leaned heavily on the new material with songs that both punch you in the face and swagger out like they own the joint.
Badlanding feels like a mirror of the band’s live energy. It’s raucous, unpolished in all the right ways, and steeped in Newcastle. It’s the kind of album that already feels at home on stage.
A huge part of that comes from the guiding hand of producer Rob Younger, whose fingerprints are all over the recording. Known for his work with Radio Birdman and the New Christs, Younger has managed to distil East Coast Low’s sound into something both raw and refined, capturing the chaos while carving out space for each element to shine.
The brass section, featuring heavy hitters like Rudi Thomson, lifts the whole thing to another level, especially on songs like Midnight Dancer, Medicine and Elevate.
With Badlanding, East Coast Low complete their sky/sea/land trilogy and cement their place as one of Newcastle’s most uncompromising rock outfits. If you missed last night’s show, you can grab a listen to the album anywhere you can find music, but it’s best listened to on a turntable.
You can grab a copy of the album on Bandcamp.
