Live Review: Boom! Bap! Pow!, Anton Franc, Amanda Merdzan, DJ Erick Namorato

The oppressive heat and humidity were still in full swing at Midlandia Locale while DJ Erick Namorato spun on the decks, with a cameo by Luke from ArtLab freestyling to it all without a single swear. The clouds behind the stage formed into the benevolent face of Will Smith smiling upon Luke and Erick's offering. That or the aforementioned heat was stuffing with this writer's mind.

But it wasn't too long before the sun's fury began to calm and Amanda Merdzan took to the stage applauding the crowd for being brave enough to think it was a good idea to come out of the air conditioning. She opened her set with Universe, Cannon (Merdzan introduced this song as being about the time she thought she had broken her bum) and Afraid also capturing the ears and hearts of those in attendance with its chilled-out sounds.

After a short break Anton Franc swaggered onto the stage. Without having seen the troupe on a stage this size it was impressive to see how they took to it like ducks to water. There was an issue with the sound from the keys at one point but the guys soldiered on through with Matt Parker jumping back on bass during Water & Blue. The keys made their Mark Twainian announcement of the exaggeration of their death just in time for Boat Song.

Of course no night would be complete without the surf-rocky sounds of Boom! Bap! Pow! and lead singer Novak Bull's high-energy bounding around the stage. The guys suggested that she wear her recently purchased “MDLND” singlet as a dress. Not only did the gal and guys get everyone on their feet dancing, but even got a crowd gathered just outside begging for one more song when they finished.