Live Review: Kirin J Callinan, Standish/Carlyon, Horse McGyver

First on was Horse McGyver, fittingly ushered on stage with a billow of smoke. His atmospheric, industrial house shifted between driving beats and jarring mechanical bursts. The sharp contrasts made for a challenging listen but one which at its peak definitely commanded attention.

Former Devastations members Standish/Carlyon were next and played a set perfect for the dark and intimate Standard. While on record the band tends to use silence as an added instrument, in a live setting Conrad Standish's bass lines give the songs a decidedly sleazier feel – in the best possible way. Tom Carlyon synth infused the tracks with the hollow dance vibe evident on their records, and while the vocals weren't as prominent in the live setting, it allowed for the grimy bass lines to feature even more prominently. This gave the tracks a darker tinge and one that made you look at the songs in a new light.

Fresh off his American tour, Kirin J Callinan was last on stage, with a capacity crowd on hand to see the Pitchfork-approved artist race through a set of tracks off his debut release. Not many local releases have been as highly anticipated as Embracism, and based off this performance it's safe to say his eagerly awaiting fans won't be disappointed.

The grungy bass and sirens of lead single, Embracism, made the track even more menacing live, while the abrasive guitar work on Love Delay made it even more heart-wrenching. In fact the abrasiveness of the live set accentuated Callinan's already expressive vocals, making the heart of each song even more exposed.

Much of Kirin J Callinan's music is built on contrasts. His feral vocals and abrasive arrangements invoke a menacing feel; however, his lyrics tend to describe very local and personal concerns. This makes his tracks all the more confronting, and helps draw you into each of them. Twenty-thirteen will undoubtedly be a breakout year for Callinan – let's just hope local audiences embrace him as much as international crowds already have.