After sets from The Brothers Grim and The Highwater Ballroom Band (who I unfortunately could not make it to see) Melbourne’s Forum Theatre was transformed into an American style Halloween celebration for Graveyard Train. The normally reserved shows at The Forum became home to the band’s country/rock/horror/Mexican influenced music which made for a truly memorable night.

The curtain revealed seven mostly bearded men, made even more difficult to distinguish due to their authentic looking scarecrow attire. Behind them was an elaborate set; including a overlooking scarecrow complete with smoking eyes. Considering Graveyard Train’s song titles include “Ghost Train” and “Dead Folk Dance” the band were the perfect choice for a Halloween show.

The crowd were dancing from the first bars of opening track, and only became more energetic throughout the night. Graveyard Train’s use of unconventional instruments kept the audiences compelled throughout the entire set. If you’re not familiar with the band, their core instruments are the standard guitars and drums, but joining them is the banjo, double bass, washboard and…the hammer and chain. Although seemingly redundant, the hammer and chain played by Adam Johansen is integral to Graveyard Train’s sound and establishes the fact they’re far more than your conventional Melbourne act.

Graveyard Train are best heard live and cannot be appreciated in full from their recordings. Being able to see each instrument come into play and the mannerisms of the band is what makes them such as awe-inspiring act. The normally six piece band had a seventh member on this occasion, and at times all band members would sing together triumphantly. Together their voices were so powerful, that is hard not to be taken away by their refreshing approach to music.

Much of Graveyard Train’s music is instrumental; however this did not deter the audience’s appreciation in the slightest. It seems there is not a great emphasis on lyrical content, but more so the music that compliments this which is brought alive by each member’s contribution. For example, “Bit By A Dog” left the crowd going crazy with excitement singing the repetitive chorus line, “I got bit by a dog, and I don’t know why.”

The local band who can normally been seen at RSL clubs seemed genuinely blown away by enthusiastic, energetic and slightly odd group who has assembled on a Monday night to howl like dogs and crowd surf. The band appeared very happy to have such huge support, with vocalist and guitarist Nick Finch saying, “We’re a local band so this is a really big deal for us…We’re playing at the fucking Forum!”

Tracks that appeared throughout the night included those of the band’s latest album The Drink, The Devil, and The Dance such as “Mummy”, “A Tall Shadow” and “Even Witches Like To Go Out Dancing.” The band’s 2009 single “Ballad For Beelzebub” was also played to give Graveyard Train a break from their mostly fast paced tracks. No track was significantly better received than the next, with the audience maintaining full enthusiasm throughout the hour and a quarter set.

The night closed on a well deserved encore, with band returning to play their version of “Fever”, originally recorded by Little Willie John. Before playing the final track, Finch gave his speech about how someday, all we’ll be gone; a line that was repeated by the room throughout the closing song.

After playing at underground Melbourne venues for years, Graveyard Train are about to explode. Their shows can be enjoyed by those who have never heard them, or by those who have listened to every lyric a thousand times. Graveyard Train’s music is refreshing and timeless, and I highly recommend you make it to their next show.

Photo by Freetoeknee photography