Live Review: Fat Shan Comp - Four5Nine Bar

The Four5Nine bar had Fat Shan Comp host the third heat in their competition - composed of four dedicated bands, a singer-songwriter and a rapper.

MC, and host of the comp, Noah Skape started off the night with his setlist, showcasing a diverse lyrical range and an authentic acoustic playing ability. Stressing folky rhythms, his stage presence aptly summarises his passion for music.

The second contender takes to the stage bearing finesse and a charismatic aura; hip hop artist Hindley. His deep cutting lyrics possess a bona fide quality, copying and pasting life experiences into high definition sounds. Producing all his own music, Hindley flipped from playing  the mysteriously dark Joseph to the cleverly-written love letter to an illness he once suffered in I Was Not Magnificent.

The bar was filled with friends and various band members watching as The Longneck Tosspots replaced the former entry Oakland. The three-piece busted out a doomy kind of grunge rock sound with wailing lyrics and good form. Their driving bass and drum rhythms rocked the venue.

Their organ player pleading with other Hound members not to leave him trapped behind his instrument while they went for a beer.

A classic title for any band in the blues rock genre, The Hounds found themselves trapped on the stage after setting up all their equipment - their organ player pleading with other Hound members not to leave him trapped behind his instrument while they went for a beer. When they got going, singer Jack Hynes sang his heart out on songs You’ve Got None, The Others and Justice. Hynes uniquely deep, warm tone is well suited to their overall sound of effected guitar and sweet, steamy, organic organ solos.

The crazy cats from Longneck returned to the stage with an even crazier cat on vocals and guitar, Austin Nagual. Their super effect-heavy guitar swells over pacy drum beats and accompanying guitar and bass providing the fullest of sounds. Nagual has the most manic stage presence and a vocal to match.

The Hounds were selected to move on to the semi-final.