New York – Australia’s goodbyemotel played a hometown show of sorts Wednesday night at the Bowery Electric. Originally from Melbourne, the band has relocated to New York. Now a hybrid of both cities, the band comprises of Aussies Tom Marks, David Schmidt, and Scott Pioro, Rochester’s Paul Amorese and Australian-Swede Gustaf Sjödin Enström. The band bounced between the two continents over the past two years while working on a new album. This week marked its release.
The record, iF, which came out the day before the show, is a follow-up to goodbyemotel’s 2012 EP People. The track “Set It Off” from the EP gained the band a steady following and was a welcome addition to the set list Wednesday. For their Bowery Electric show, the band understandably played mostly songs off the new record. Although not an official album release party, the concert was celebrated with as much pomp and circumstance as if it were. With Enström’s family present from Sweden, the band was greeted by a healthy crowd that stayed long after the opening sets of Animal Talk and Cheap Satori to hear them play music from their long-awaited album.
goodbyemotel started with “Hurricane,” the lead single off iF. Recorded in New York’s own Rola Pola Studios in Williamsburg, the song was a steady start to the night. With Amorese’s thumping away at his kit and Enström leaning into his mic, the band launched into a slow burn of a set. They followed with “Ocean Wide Open,” another mid-tempo track off the LP. The track really showcased Enström’s warm vocals and how much he has improved since the band’s last release.
He drifted with ease through the opening lines of “Mona Lisa.” The “hey-yeahs” of the pre-chorus were perfectly rounded off by the rest of the band on backing vocals. The song is easily one of the stronger on the album and its live version was one of the best in the set. Another memorable song was “Please Rewind,” the penultimate song on iF. The synth-laced instrumentals paired wonderfully with Enström’s soaring “so hold ons” and vocal runs. Marks’ bassline in “Too Late” and Amorese overall inspired drumming were also notable.
Towards the end of “Bending Shadows,” the evening pulled an unexpected turn. The song slowed and morphed into the opening lines of Radiohead’s “No Surprises.” It was a lofty goal of a cover, but the simplicity and softness of the song fit well with the rest of goodbyemotel’s repertoire as well as their overall sound. Enström wasn’t a pitch perfect Thom Yorke, but it was a valiant effort and an interesting way to end the evening.
Luckily the band’s post-release victory lap of New York didn’t end there. Enström is playing a solo show on the 25th at Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 3) and the band will be playing the album’s formal release party on December 12 at Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2). If you can make it out, definitely go to the release (where you can pick up your very own copy of iF.) It’ll be the band’s last show of the year!
Zoe Marquedant
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