Big ScaryBig Scary have been greeted by sold-out venues throughout their national tour and Fremantle's Fly By Night was no exception.
Melbourne singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett wasted no time warming up the chilled-out crowd, kicking off with a couple of tracks from her first EP, I've Got A Friend Called Emily Ferris, before trying out some new material. The small band packed a big sound, with solid three-part vocal harmonies and Barnett's serious guitar prowess proving more than enough to get heads nodding and toes tapping.
Big Scary arrived onstage casually, setting the tone for a relaxed but energetic set that began with lead vocalist Tom Iansek politely announcing their intention to play new album, Not Art, from start to finish: “We're just going to be total douchebags for 45 minutes.”
From the grungy My Name Is to the intricate, electro-infused ballad, Luck Now, the band transitioned seamlessly from one track to the next, displaying the diversity of sound they've become renowned for. Drummer Jo Syme was spectacular, thumping out unconventional rhythms full of rich dynamics and venturing beyond the kit briefly to sing lead vocals on the pared-back Harmony Sometimes. Iansek's deft and delicate piano playing was the feature of haunting ballad, Twin Rivers, a familiar crowd favourite.
With business out of the way it was time to play some “oldies”, as Iansek called them, though most of the remaining songs were from the band's debut LP, Vacation, which is just two years young. The band pleased older fans with the well-worn Gladiator, before winding it up to a frenetic pace on Purple. This undeniably danceable number saw the band let loose and was a fitting end to an exceptionally eclectic set.
Big Scary's versatility and refusal to be pigeonholed is what makes their music so utterly fascinating. Just when you think you've got them figured out, they throw in a live saxophone here or a sampled gospel choir there (this gig featured both). Like a pendulum swinging from ambient and restrained to gutsy and powerful, Big Scary's Fremantle performance would certainly have piqued the interest of any first-timers and left the rest wanting more.
