
Issue No 26		13 August 1999

Review

Working Class Boys

By Michael Gadiel and Tanya Barber

silverchair might have a new sound, but they're part of a rich Australian music tradition.


	Silverchair's Daniel Johns

Big sound, fast guitars, teenagers sweaty and screaming ....Daniel Johns the messiah of the new generation. Shyly at first he mumbles his thank yous to the audience, but as the night progresses and the music intensifies he soliloquises expansively to the audience and we start to see a modern day Jim Morison manifest himself onstage. With the looks of Kurt Cobain, the stage antics of AC DC and the Doors' prophetic style, there's no wonder Silverchair have captured the imagination of our youth.

Could it be that their success is the result of the right blend of sound from past rock legends? Is their style simply a carefully crafted combination sought by the marketers to generate a formula to appeal to the modern teenage ear - in the same vein as Hanson or Britney Spears. Or does Silverchair, in fact, pass the Spicegirl challenge? We say absolutely.

Silverchair qualify as an original act. Their steel city heritage, their extraordinary young age and their newfound political edge combined with the phenomenal voice of the lead singer...make them modern day working class heroes. Whilst on the snow fields in Jindabyne the middle class kids are jamming to Powderfinger the Working Class kids of Wollongong are moshing away to the thumping sounds of their class comrades...Silverchair.

Both bands have a unique philosophy, a strong class message and a new outlook on the world. Both talk of the failures of the ideas and the promises of prior generations, but the difference is that Powderfinger, although mournful, are more in harmony with the world. Their style and lyrics convey a melancholy acceptance of the human condition. In contrast, Silverchair vent the cynicism and anger of a generation with bleak prospects in a society which is oblivious to the plight of young working class people. They strike a chord in the minds of the youth who don't believe the solemn assurances of the politicians who 'are so sure', because the youth are unsure - acutely aware of truth, they certainly don't believe that our leaders will make it up to them in the year 200.

silverchair played at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre on Friday August 6

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Issue 26 contents

Republic: Looking Forward
With the Republic referendum threatening to run off the rails, supporters of an Australian Head of State need to reclaim the debate from the lawyers.

Interview: Chatting With Kate
Workers Onlineďż˝s first ever Net night was held in the Yap chatroom this week. Labor IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy stepped up to the plate to talk Politics in a Wired World.

Unions: Simply the Best!
A major international study has ranked Australian seafarers the world's best.

Technology: Unions Log In to Online Yap
A Conference on Unions and Information Technology for the Australasian Region will be held in Melbourne: November 15-17.

History: Edmund Who?
John Passant lifts the veil on Our first Prime Minister, a bloke called Barton.

International: Turkish Miners' Leader Murdered
Semsi Denizer, President of the Turkish miners' union Genel Maden-Is, was shot dead outside his home last Friday evening.

Labour Review: What's New at the Organising Centre
Read the latest issue of Labour Review, Labor Council's resource for students and activists.

Review: Working Class Boys
silverchair might have a new sound, but theyďż˝re part of a rich Australian music tradition.

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» "Big Drum Up" For East Timor

» Eric Lee Public Forum

» STOP PRESS: Fire Bans Lifted But Dispute Not Over

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Piers Fans Fires

» Some Views Of Einstein

» Group Homes Sell-Off Fears

» Privatisation Of Prince Of Wales Hospital Maintenance Department

» Call for Wage Freeze Action

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