Live Review: Gang Of Youths, Spookyland

Sydney band Spookyland, who classify their genre of music as “solipsist rock and roll,” took to the stage to warm up a chilly, damp crowd at Oxford Art Factory on Saturday night. 

Their unusual take on rock is championed by lead singer Marcus Gordon’s eerie vocals, which are sure to set them apart from those kids next door who’ve formed a rock band in your neighbour’s garage. 

There was a pained and tormented vibe to the set that nicely complemented the dark lyrics of Spookyland’s new single, The Silly Fucking Thing. It was good to see them let go of that mature restraint during the back half of their performance and really get the crowd going before the pre-warned “catastrofuck” that was about to happen. 

The rowdy hunks from Gang Of Youths came crashing onto the stage with an energy and fire that turned Oxford Art Factory into a hot, sweaty refuge from Saturday night’s torrential downpour. 

They were crowd-pleasers through and through, giving the audience exactly what they wanted right from the get-go, with an early performance of their epic new single, Poison Drum. 

Their brand of indie rock is the kind of music that will inevitably induce involuntary foot-stomping and head-thrashing in all those exposed to it. The Sydney boys clearly felt at home and comfortable on stage. The banter flying between them and audience added to the feeling that we could have been at frontman David Leaupepe’s house party while they performed for their hooligan mates. This feeling was confirmed when Leaupepe took a moment between tracks to remind his mum, “People actually paid money to see me!”

We want these guys at our next house party before the word catches on about their ability to deliver such an explosive set and they begin packing out shows regularly.