Live Review: Gunns, Hamjam, Peter Bibby, Aborted Tortoise, Doctopus

Mojo’s was buzzing on Saturday night as five of Perth’s finest acts were showcased in a very special 7” vinyl launch.

Doctopus was first up and came out with some instant toe-tappers. Bassist and lead vocalist Stephen Bellair gleefully took swigs of beer and Red Bull between songs and the crowd loved every minute of it. The band’s onstage antics were indicative of a camaraderie that is so often missing from even the most seasoned bands. It was clear these lads were doing this purely for the love of music, and the room fed off that energy.

Before departing, Bellair offered some final words of wisdom: “It’s almost the end of 2014, so figure out what the most important thing for you to do is and do it. Now get me another fucking drink.”

Next up were the surf/punk favourites Aborted Tortoise. The deceptively baby-faced five-piece grabbed the crowd’s attention almost immediately. Within ten seconds, they’d managed to draw a huge crowd in, and even elicited a cry of “Whoa, they’re good!” Their triple guitar combo, electric drumming and insane vocals proved to be a winning formula as people danced on the floor, at the bar, and even in their seats. All eyes were on them from start to finish and their set seemed to fly by.

As Peter Bibby postponed his set to down a shot it was clear he was something different. His set was largely comprised of quirky narration over guitar, and it didn’t fail to entertain. Bibby drew inspiration for his songs from odd places as he sang about a disobedient dog and his desire to be dismembered. The coarseness of his guitar was a good fit for the lyrical content, and colourful lines like “I wanna give head” over and over certainly got a reaction.

The room was packed by the time Hamjam hit the stage. The boys came out swinging, with an instant burst of energy gloriously slapping the crowd in the face from the get-go. Fans and friends alike were thrashing about and basking in the good vibes emitted from the stage, with some even showing off some choreographed moves in the middle of the set.

Gunns graced the stage just after midnight and the mood was still high as ever. The band’s blend of summery instrumentals and breezy vocals had half the room moving and the other half in a trance. The Fool was a favourite, as fans couldn’t help but watch in awe, almost completely immobilised. As they left the stage, the crowd still cheering, it was clear they were the perfect way to end a cool, summer night.