Live Review: Cured Pink

Tonight at The Tote it's an all-Brisbane musical buffet as Cured Pink have ventured down to the cold to launch their new album with support from fellow Brisbanites Cured Pink, Cured Pink and Cured Pink. Kicking off the night, Cured Pink deliver some interesting sounds to get everyone in the mood. While the band used to be more brash and noisy, the four-piece feel more mathematical tonight as songs share ideas musically. Though at times the sound feels a little off, the room's attention span is certainly spiked.  

The bandroom notably fills up for Cured Pink and from the first song the band deliver something familiar. As the set progresses, however, the band's enthusiasm seems to wander and, as a result of the mix, the band lose that experimental sound; they feel far more accessible, but it's not entertaining enough to warrant interest. While there are moments to be had this is a letdown.

Finally comes tonight's headliners: Cured Pink (surprise, surprise). They arrive on stage and everything just comes together, with the rhythm from the chugging bass of Mitchell Perkins and Glen Schenau's rimshot clicks aiding Stuart Busby's wandering manipulated horn lines and frontman Andrew McLellan's brash guitar and tripped-out vocals. It all comes together for (I'm) Swimming. Audience members throw assorted items on stage and even attempt to dance to these paranoid sounds. When it all comes to a close, the crowd (surprisingly, after this third helping) want more. The band play a rare encore, which feels quite slapped together but has punk energy.

Yep, the concept of this band playing three times, also as their own supports, is a good one. The sets are the same though shuffled about. The only discredit comes in the few moments of banter referencing the happenings, which ruins the intrigue.