The Basics Record a Live Album

Last night Tash, Mary and I made our way to the Northcote Social Club to see our beloved band The Basics record songs for an upcoming live album. After signing our names in paint on the boards that will be used for the album cover, we entered the sold out room. The band played a range of songs spanning all their releases throughout the two hour set. The evening started with just Wally, Kris and Tim on stage, and then they were joined by David Bramble on keyboards and other musicians as the evening progressed.

There were a fair amount of songs from Stand Out/Fit In, with "Lookin' Over My Shoulder" having a more reggae sound. "Three Cool Cats" had the audience clapping out the rhythm and Tim played a lively version of "Have Love, Will Travel." There were only a few songs played from the new album Keep Your Friends Close, including our favorite "The No. 1 Cause of Death Amongst Youth Today" and a completely new and faster arrangement of "Home Again" that was inspired by Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)." I was really excited to hear the unreleased track "What It Feels Like To Be Loved," which was played at The Evelyn residency in 2008 but didn't make the album.

It wouldn't be a Basics gig without covers, and we got a few throughout the evening, including The Police's "Roxanne," Neil Young's "Old Man" and New Kids On The Block's "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" complete with dance moves. To finish off the night they played a medley of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and Eric Clapton's "Cocaine." It will be interesting to see what songs end up making it onto the live album.

Here's the video for their brilliant latest single, "The No. 1 Cause of Death Amongst Youth Today"