At First Sight Violets are Blue- The Stems

Many years ago at my high school, 96fm organized a lunch time concert by the Stems. For the massive sum of $1.50 we got to rock out through our lunch break to this rock/pop guitar driven band. I spent the afternoon with my ears ringing and the biggest grin on my face, I loved the band, but also loved what hearing live music did to me.

I assume this was about 1986 and the next year the Stems first(and for a long while only) album was released, At First Sight Violets are Blue. Listening back to this album I honestly believe that the band discovered the formula to perfect pop. Written down the formula would look something like this: Vague familiarity + Sounds completely new + melody = Perfect Pop.

No song demonstrates this more than the opening title track, simply one of the best opening riffs ever recorded, old school pop lyrics a change in the bridge, then back into that brilliant yet familiar riff. You’ve heard it 1000 times but it feels like the first.

The rest of the album almost lives up to this perfect tune, moving through the punchy pop of “Sad Girl” and “Rosebud” before getting expansive through the middle part of the album with Tracks like”Man with the Golden Heart” and “You can’t turn the clock back”, the album closes with “The Otherside” a surfie stomp pschydelic romp that sums up the Stems sound and is a perfect bookend to the whimsy of the opening track.

If you happen to have a listen to this album on Apple Music or Spotify be sure to look for the deluxe edition with extra tracks, it features the bands early singles and some live work which really round out their story.

Unfortunately the band broke up later in 1987 leaving us with a wonder of what could have been. I saw them at a reunion show at Metropolis Fremantle some time in the 90’s and they have reformed again since, even producing a second album. An album I’m yet to listen to.

Lead singer and guitarist Dom Mariani has continued to produce music in a similar vein with various bands including the Someloves, DM3 and the majestic kelp. All worth a listen but only after you’ve given At First Sight a good go.