Live Review: children collide deep sea arcade palms

Unlike just about every other Children Collide show played in Sydney, there were a decent scattering of eager punters but nothing like the usual throng. Once inside, the auditoria's curtained off back end made it was clear it was going to be a more intimate show than anticipated.

The nice floppy-haired indie boys Palms got things off with their take on tightly presented '60s-infused jangly guitar pop. They like to mix things up in terms of pace and beat, but hang on to the same guitar elements throughout, which adds a repetitive element to it all. The synchronised bobbing was entertaining; they got a few big cheers from the sparsely peopled room and closed out with a number that went to town with big thumping drums.

Deep Sea Arcade certainly gave their new album a good showing with their set, taking us into the surf tunes territory that calls to mind the very early Beach Boys, coupled big atmospheric soundscapes. It might sound an odd combination but it's one that gets the boys in the audience shaking their arses and plastering on the big cheesy grins.

Children Collide's set kicked off with Chosen Armies and the familiar rabble-rousing good times began; the last it seems we will share with this incarnation of the band, considering the imminent departure of drummer Ryan Caesar. The set mixed crowd favourites Skeleton Dance, My Eagle and Loveless with the new like Cherries and erupted in a blaze of feedback and epilepsy-inducing lighting on We Live In Fear.

“Someone's written you a love letter Ryan and they spelled your last name right,” said frontman Johnny Mackay as he caught a package tossed on stage. Meanwhile the significance of the riding crop being waved down the front was only a little more mystifying than the dude playing helicopter with his t-shirt. “There are some people here very obsessed with everyone taking their clothes off. I'm not going near you,” said Mackay.

But it certainly didn't deter his forays down to the crash barrier, or a huge singalong on Farewell Rocketship. Jelly Legs and Fire Engine wound up the show, as Mackay's stated dislike of orchestrated encores put paid to that. Judging by the reaction, no one minded.