Live Review: Custard, Burgers Of Beef, Pat Chow

The Rosemount was already bustling with punters by the time local grunge outfit Pat Chow hit the stage. Given their throwback sounds, they slot into the night seamlessly with churning fuzzed riffs that slay through their latest single Outta Words. Pat Chow played like a band primed and ready to take 2016 to its knees.

It's difficult to define Burgers Of Beef, who blend elements of brass band rhythms, rock melody and a cabaret style into a tight performance. They beamed energy from start to finish with the zany lyrics of The Tooth fairy Is Scary or even the slow shape pulls of Ninjas And Their Ninjitsu — the burgers do it their own way and they do it well.

From the moment Custard arrived there were flashes back to sweaty shows at The Zoo or Mary Street in Brisbane or Livid and Homebake festivals of old. With no drop in sound or atmosphere, this is still a band at its finest.

Running in support of their latest record and utterly charming Come Back, All Is Forgiven, the new tracks seem to fit perfectly between what is essentially a greatest hits set to treat a long-waiting Perth crowd. Pack Yr Suitcases, The New Matthew, Girls Like That (Don't Go For Guys Like Us) and Music Is Crap quickly transformed the room into a screaming, dancing, singing jumble of bodies and smiles that albeit briefly retreated to a warm sweaty mosh for the spiralling energy of Apartment and the slick bass-driven Ringo (I Feel Like...). Frontman Dave McCormack's entertaining banter with 'Fletch the sound tech' and prodding humour with the crowd during a faux encore break show a band that not only still have the glimmer that made them alt heroes in the late '90s but one that genuinely still enjoy the performance today. It's taken a while for Custard to make the journey from the Sunshine State but it's hard to complain when they bring a cracking album and show like this along for the ride.