Live Review: Body Type, Haircare

Body Type are garnering international acclaim for their grungy, dreamy rock and ebullient stage presence. Their current national tour is a celebration of their exceptional EP2, which sets the stage for many adventures to come for this exciting group. It was wet and gloomy outside, but it felt like spring in the Aardvark basement thanks to a packed house of cheery punters anticipating a great night.

Haircare delivered a thoroughly enjoyable set played in a great spirit. With luscious locks and charming grins, these young lads were well received, particularly the jaunty, tuneful Hot Topic.

Body Type hit the stage to generous applause. Their recently released EP2 showcases a propulsive, spiky sound that recalls the grungy inner-city bars, flat beer and sticky carpets of yore. Tonight’s pulsating set started with the melancholic, velvety bounce of Free To Air followed by the irresistible pounding drums of Teeth from the band’s self-titled first EP. Sophie McComish is a dynamic frontwoman but the distinct personalities of all four members shine through on stage, along with the band members’ genuine respect and admiration for each other. There were some early sound issues but these were mostly ironed out by the second half of the set. Highlights included Uma, which documents the grisly treatment of the famous actor and includes the unforgettable rallying cry, “All for one and one for the downfall,” the ethereal Silver and the glorious, punky earworm Stingray. The set finished with the one-two punch of the well-loved Ludlow and the blistering Palms to a raucous reception from the eager punters. Across the set, the band were a living embodiment of a whole comprising more than the sum of its parts, with all four members contributing to a glorious musical synthesis. Music fans across the country (and around the world) are waiting in anticipation for Body Type’s next step, but the present reality is pretty damn sweet!