Live Review: Gignition

For an event centred around bringing new bands into our city's music scene, Gignition was certainly not just any old amateur hour. From the get-go, the punters were aplenty, the music was quality and the atmosphere was just right.

Scarlet Therapy was first off the rank on Sunday afternoon, around four o'clock, bringing in the patrons with their danceable, groovy pop/rock sounds. Reminiscent of Kings Of Leon and The Strokes, the Therapy blitzed through their set with a well-rehearsed sound. With the band's name emblazoned on the lead vocalist's left-handed telecaster, their presence was forthwith and unabashed. The band finished up their set with David Bowie and Queen brainchild Under Pressure in the true duet style, featuring the vocal talents of the bassist singing Bowie's parts.

Next up were first-timers Heavenly Creatures, who gave it a red-hot go if anyone ever did. The band's nerves were noticeable, but they need not have been, as their performance was a great debut. Unjustifiably depreciating themselves between songs, the band would immediately dispel its comments with songs penned by each of the members, showcasing a diversity that many well-established bands lack. At the end of the set, the band thanked everyone for “Popping their stage cherry”, and finished on a strong note.

WAAPA expat duo Foreign Architects took the third slot on the bill, bringing a little bit of stage experience with them to kick things along. Featuring Matt Burke on the guitar and Andrew Barnett, the duo was formidable enough as a two-piece, but left one wanting horn sections and organs. Showcasing a number of tunes from their debut EP, Jane, the pair was certainly the forerunner of the night, in terms of drive and intention.

Unfamiliar with their content, this reviewer didn't really know what to expect with Who's Your Daddy. It so turned out, when the middle-aged dudes took to stage, that the name may well have been a clever pun on their collective paternities. Armed with old-school instruments and channelling Nick Cave and '80s and '90s rock, Who's Your Daddy played a tight set.

Last up was the speed-metal/hardcore/punk amalgamation known as Social Madness. Kicking off with a cover from band of similar name, Social Distortion, they delivered the short-fast-and-abrasive immediately. The remainder of their set saw plenty of exceedingly dextrous shredding and hard-hitting. The outdoor venue unfortunately lost a lot of the mid and high frequencies which assumedly took away from the sound they were trying to achieve, however they purveyed exactly what they needed to.