Live Review: Dag, You, No Magic

The Bearded Lady is quickly becoming quite the hotspot for bands in West End and on this humble Thursday night, that point is proven as the place is well and truly packed for an all-star cast of local oddball tunage.

Kicking off a little later than expected, No Magic are quite the early spectacle. The group, led by former members of Old Growth Cola, deliver a smorgasbord of upbeat pop numbers. The show is slightly stolen by Lewis O’Leary’s custom-made instrument, fuelled by effects pedals and equal amounts colour. Some O.G.(C.) tracks are thrown into the mix with hit single, Falling In Love Again proving a notable highlight amidst the dips into the past, while new material proved a striking fascination. On the basis of tonight’s performance the relatively new group shows promise for the road ahead.

Fresh from a stint in Japan and a bit of a remodel musically/cosmetically, You take the stage boasting a selection of new material. Opener, Caprice, is like a hot steamy night on a Bali beach with an unrequited love in the distance being too far away to catch, the bass acting as the ultimate canvas for wandering instrumentation and dramatic builds.

"Dag seem more like a party as bodies litter the stage."

It’s the quieter numbers that really shine tonight as the sound works in perfect favour of the band, allowing for the downer hooks to get drilled in even if you can’t see You in amongst the baited audience. Old Man is another highlight that really lets the subtlety of Michael Whitney’s whisper-like approach to vocals and allows for a sense of vulnerability to shine. Good job, lads!

Rounding out the night, Dag seem more like a party as bodies litter the stage delivering up Wake In Fright-cross-share-house-style pop songs. Things are largely focused around the group’s latest tape release, Dogwood, and in the live arena the jump from tape shows these songs in a new light. Frontman Dusty Anasstassiou is commanding throughout and reinforces himself as the driving force of the band, especially in the later moments of the set as he lets loose on the audience. Things sound-wise at times get a little muddy due to changing instrumentation, mainly the guest violin work for the night not really being distinguishable within the mix. However, when it works, it works. Just like a Newstart allowance form being finally approved by Centrelink.

Venturing out onto the street sees people showing little care for the pesky work day that looms ahead and instead a satisfied aura is universally provided from the festivities of the night. Bearded Lady, you got game, girl.