Live Review: Gignition: Atacama Giants, Nakedflame, Dadadam

A variety of tunes were heard on a chilly Sunday night as another round of Gignition kicked off at The Swan Basement. First up were the funk rock stylings of Dadadam, purveyors of a distinctly '60s vibe. The three-piece seemed right at home in the underground setting, but unfortunately the audience was rather limited throughout the entire set, and as a result crowd/band interaction was at a low. Playing songs such as Lead Into Gold and Brave New World, the band achieved a very Hendrix/Clapton sound, with fuzzed-out guitars, vocal delays and infectious grooves.

Next to grace the sticky stage floors were Nakedflame. With much more of a punk rock feeling, the six-piece made use of impressive guitar solos and frenzied drums to recreate the thrash punk rock feel of the 1980s. This time travel was also assisted by some incredible Van Halen-esque guitar solos played on rotation by the different guitarists. It was nice to see a group so in tune with each other, with everybody sharing the spotlight. With an almost biblical theme consistent throughout the set, lyrics dealt with the end of the world, creation, the universe and god. The middle act racked up the biggest audience, drawing people away from the cancer area.

The final band of the evening, Atacama Giants, produced a solid set despite a few technical hiccups. The band approached the stage with a shy demeanour, but once they began playing all hell broke loose. Screaming vocals and heavy drums meant that sometimes the guitar was lost in the mix, but the cacophony created by the band was definitely solid and unique. So unique, however, that perhaps it did not quite suit the relaxed atmosphere of The Swan Basement. Still, at the very least, the night offered a musical mystery tour, moving from the funk rock of the psychedelic age to the thrashing and shredding of the '80s, and then to the unique post-hardcore sounds of the noughties. Nice.