Live Review: Buried Feather, Pony Face, Baptism Of Uzi

Baptism Of Uzi debut their Fist Of The Western Suburbs single to a small-but-appreciative crowd. Pony Face go down and dirty with their brand of messy guitar, big beat and a wee bit of dirge.

Beginning with The Stranger, Buried Feather rip into a cacophony of screechy guitar pulled back by a dose of keyboard. Frontman Steve McLennan announces, almost shyly, "Our new album was released yesterday," before getting back to business. McLennan's soaring vocals are an instrument unto themselves and are full of emotion. The only issue is that, at times, the vocals are too low in the mix and a bit muddy. In front of the stage, a fledging moshpit appears. The crowd dances and sways, some with eyes closed as they absorb the music. Behind the band, psychedelic patterns pulse on a big screen, complementing the music.

The rhythm section of bassist Jim Grimwade and drummer Callum Routledge are perfectly in sync, the musicians holding down their instruments with a vivid intensity. Routledge closes his eyes, losing himself in the music. He impresses by beating the skins one-handed while shaking a maraca with the other hand. Josh Moult provides blistering guitar, ripping out lines that reverberate around the room. The audience holler and whoop as Moult prowls the stage with a trademark grin in place. Buried Feather's sound is a mix of psychedelia, surf guitar and pumping bass. It would make the perfect accompaniment for long drives down dusty coastal roads under big, open skies.

When the band showcase songs from their earlier albums, the progression in their sound is notable. McLennan's vocals have shifted to become less polished. This is not a bad thing, since it shows expansion and experimentation. But it's the new work that stands out: the uneasy crescendo of Mind Of The Swarm, the infectious-yet-plaintive Regular Creep and the Doctor Who-esque The Stranger.

Post-show, the merch stall is pumping, which is always a good sign.