Cloud Nothings are a band with one foot squarely in the past, with a sound revelling in what actually made the “grunge” era of the nineties good (if you want to listen to a band who revelled in the worst of grunge, check out Creed – better yet, don’t). Their other foot, though, is stamping…
Japandroids have been one of my favourite bands since their incredible debut Post-Nothing. Their Australian fanbase has expanded rapidly since the recent release of Celebration Rock – a damn good thing, since it meant that the duo finally made the long trip over from Vancouver to play their first-ever Australian show in the gentle warmth…
At my first Big Day Out in five years, there was plenty of good music but also plenty of opportunities for people-watching and general sightseeing. Some of the sights…
Some thoughts on bands where I either missed a great deal of their set or, frankly, didn’t have that much to say. Includes Grinspoon, Foals, The Killers and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Against Me! played on the same main stage that the Red Hot Chili Peppers would eventually close at the end of the night. But where the Chili Peppers’ sound was sketchy and inconsistent, Against Me! sounded bold and perfectly mixed, with heavy percussion, boisterous guitars and precisely mixed vocal levels.
I got into Childish Gambino thanks to Donald Glover’s acting and stand-up, and was impressed at the quality of his major label debut Camp. It was unexpectedly good, catchy stuff from someone primarily known for being funny. His live show was equally unexpected, with Glover possessing a furious energy and command of the stage. He…
This was supposed to be the highlight of my Big Day Out. I’m not exactly across the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ entire discography, but with a back catalogue featuring modern classics like “Zero,” “Date with the Night” and the achingly melancholic “Maps” (one of the best songs of the past decade), I had high expectations.
Sleigh Bells’ stage was sparsely attended, due to coinciding with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bloody Beetroots and Animal Collective. Their stage, with darkness swathed in atmospheric smoke pierced with spot- and strobe lights, created an enclosed atmosphere that intensified the proximity; it was like being a nightclub (with enough space to dance!). It didn’t…
The best live shows are born of either professionalism (which tends to go hand-in-hand with competent musicianship) or, more often, enthusiasm, a group or artist obviously enjoying themselves on stage. Last night’s performance by Hot Chip had both professionalism and enthusiasm in spades. It also featured the lost art of careful setlist structuring (ie. not…
Orlando Higginbottom, better known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, has an ice-blue sterility on record, detached electro paired with simple yet heartfelt adolescent lyrics. I’d expected a warmer sound live, but instead his live set accentuated the aloofness. He performed in ornamental regalia, bordered by dancing girls who intermittently cavorted to the music. They seemed…
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