Alex CameronThere was something of an airy vibe around Amps on Saturday night – it was a very different crowd to the one on the opposite side of the doors in Capitol, where The Beards were performing to a huge crowd.
Alex Cameron took to the stage shortly after 9pm and semi-sarcastically joked about the roars and cheers that could be heard on the other side of the double-venue. We were all more than happy to be on our side, though – the man oozed cool, piecing together some spectacular dance moves as he grooved his way through a bunch of tracks with lengthy, often dryly humorous explanations about each song in between. Really, you couldn’t have picked a better support act for this show.
A lengthy break later and Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders wandered on stage, frontman Tim Rogers, aka Jack Ladder a huge, commanding figure right in the middle of the stage. The band launched straight into the band’s first single from the Playmates album, Come On Back This Way, the addition of the guitar in place of the original track’s synthesiser adding that extra bite to the song. Rogers was as smooth and cool in his vocal delivery as you’d expect, a coy smile on his face as he thanked the audience at various points throughout the set. The show was all about showcasing Playmates, and the band powered through Her Hands, Model Worlds, Reputation Amputation and The Miracle, a total bringing-someone-home tune. The end of the set featured tracks from the back catalogue, Hurtsville and encore track Cold Feet receiving a great reception from even the punters only making their way into the venue to kick-start a big Saturday night. It was an awesome performance by a band that doesn’t get over to Perth often enough – come back soon, guys!
