Live Review: 65daysofstatic, sleepmakeswaves, Elroy 4.0 & Hazards Of Swimming Naked

Hazards Of Swimming Naked are on early, set to the task of warming up the crowd, but they put on a performance that could easily have headlined the event. The sound at The Hi-Fi can be a little hit or miss, but tonight it's damn near perfect and as tracks flow on, dominant instruments swap cleanly, catchy riffs and tremolos trading pride of place within the complex compositions. The band's newest track has been tightened since their last headline gig and fits into the set much better now, but it's older numbers like Uppers And Downers that most see the crowd burst into genuine and enthusiastic applause.

With squelchy electronic beats, under a smooth hip hop-influenced vibe, Elroy 4.0 functions as a palate cleanser between the heavier bands tonight and it works well. It doesn't attract the same attention as the other bands, but it's still high-quality stuff. sleepmakeswaves trade the broad dynamic palate of Hazards for a much heavier and more directly intense take on post-rock, high-pitched chords dominating the venue. The band thrash about onstage, drawn into their own music with an infectious energy that soon spreads to the crowd. The set takes heavily from their shorter, sharper tracks, but it's the eleven-minute closer, A Gaze Blank And Pitiless As The Sun, that provides the crescendo and throws down a gauntlet to the headliners.

As the beginning of Drove Through Ghosts To Get Here sounds through the PA, 65daysofstatic make their way onto the stage and, as the song pauses towards the middle, launch into live instrumentation and meet the challenge. The setlist draws heavily from their latest release We Were Exploding Anyway tonight, and the introduction provides a good preview of things to come, programmed electronics filling out the sound alongside the live instruments. With the combination, it's important that 65daysofstatic is tight – and they never miss a beat. Their recent output is strongly electro-influenced and it's interesting, watching the band live, to reflect how well they'd fit in at a rave these days, the songs as well-suited for dancing as they are for a rock audience. Also evident is how hook-filled their music is, each track immediately identifiable, despite the lack of lyrics, and with so many highlights on display, it's impossible to pick a favourite moment.

It's a bit early in the year to be handing out plaudits, but with world-class performances by every band on the bill tonight, showcasing three very different takes on a well-worn genre, this is a show that is going to take a lot to beat. An excellent way to kick off the year.