Live Review: Gignition

2 May 2013 | 10:23 am | Jessica Tana

Each band commended the others and suggested the audience stick around for the following acts, as lead singer from Ibis Elm put it: “Gignition used to be every Sunday so let’s keep it going!”

With a line-up ranging from alt-rock and pop, grunge, funk and folk ballads, the bands and musicians on display at Gignition last Sunday at the Railway Hotel showed a distinct breed of new talent emerging from WA. A noticeably good turn-out put smiles on many faces, starting with Rachel Charles and her whimsical melodies played on the ukulele. Bitter-sweet ballads about suicidal weevils and eating icecream (Weevil Song, Eating Icecream) were sung in her high pitched warbling vibrato, including a comical rendition of Kelis's Milkshake. Ibis Elm followed with a cacophony of heavy guitars, clashing voices and grunge driven rifts. Tracks like Welded and Creeper showcased their stomping alternative sound, which although not tightly produced, was performed with feeling.

Satirical pop group Tall Poppy Syndrome showed they were back after a nine month hiatus with a new bass player. Covering old favourites like The Martians Are Coming they also played new hits like Mobile a song about being in love with mobile phones “I feel it in my pocket and it makes me hard”.

Most notable of the day was Pusherman steaming up the chilly autumn afternoon with gyrating belt movements, lyrics dripping with sexual innuendo atop funky beats and heavy guitars.

Frontman Niall Campbell's voice ranges from fast paced skat-like moments to crooning soul and R'n'B vibrato. Like an Irish Al Green he had bums wiggling on their chairs and the audience clapping. It's a shame there was no dance floor as this band would know how to throw a party. Lyrics were punchy and well written Thong (the Australian kind) and not all happy-go-lucky such as Staying Out Of Trouble (In WA).

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Finishing off the day was When It's Over, five young men unafraid to play what they wanted; a mix of emotive styled pop with melodramatic lyrics and presentation.  After the first song Try Again they warned the crowd more was to follow and if they didn't like it, now was the time to leave. With a talented lead guitarist kick starting every song and even chucking in a few solos they covered Kisschasy and Weezer with gusto. One of the best things about a non-competitive local music fest like Gignition is the genuine appreciation and support the musicians have for each other and their art. Each band commended the others and suggested the audience stick around for the following acts, as lead singer from Ibis Elm put it: “Gignition used to be every Sunday so let's keep it going!”