A perfect musical storm had gathered on the fringes of Fremantle for the Apache Creature video launch at Mojos bar on Boxing Day. Christmas-weary punters ready to celebrate with their true families, seven of the best indie rock acts in Perth, and all smack bang in the middle of the years' biggest holiday period; the night was guaranteed to get messy.
Celebrator was on first, offering up their goliath sound of saw chords and siren vocals. The five-piece set the tone for the night with their sonic tribute to the early crowd, but it was second act and indie-grunge darlings Tired Lion that blew the roof off the show and truly let the storm in. Filling the intimate venue to near-bursting, the band glided through their high energy set of prominent and dynamic songs with fuzzed up guitars, sharp drum fills, and a voice that shone out like a beacon.
Even with Mojos beginning to resemble a sardine-tin more than a bar, the crowd seemed to sink back on their haunches and chill for We Move Walls and Moaana; who despite a broad range of sounds, styles, and influences seemed to play to the crowd rather than for them.
SpaceManAntics brought down a tidal wave of dark, psychedelic rock riffs that reignited the show. Combined with everyone's favourite instrument the saxophone, the band had a distinct 70s urban feel with a punchy, eclectic, and ethereal mix.
Not to be outdone, Runner came out swinging for the fences with some absolute beast drum fills and a four-guitar front line, but the longest change-over time of the night cost the band the white-hot crowd.
Showrunners Apache on the other hand practically burnt a hole through the floor; the crowd already jostling from prime position to watch the premier projection of the bands' new music video Creature. A true grindhouse indie rock track, dark dirty sex in music form, fierce rock moments over a chopped up-tempo beat, all cut to a blend of retro filters and 90s VHS visual noise.
After this magnanimous opening, Apache unleashed themselves upon the stage in a fury of massive rock rhythms and searing vocal wails. The band whipped the crowd into frenzy in the front rows, dropping from soaring highs to harsh and gritty growls, and finishing out the night to an epic rock rhythm.
