Live Review: Mere Women, Ouch My Face, Mares, Jem & Laura

The Evelyn Hotel turns into a live art installation as Melbourne duo Jem & Laura finely craft their avant-garde punk soundscapes. The pair kneel on the stage, crouched over pedal boards and a mic'd-up steel drum. Moody guitar lines are paired with the crashing sounds of glass, steel pipes and the scraping noise of a hammer dragged down the side of the drum.

Mares is a name you've probably not heard, but it won't be that way for long. This moody grunge quartet capture our attention from the very first note. A slurred female vocal drone is supported by melancholy guitars lines and a steady rhythm section. Even though there isn't much variation in tempo or tone, you can't help but be sucked in. They don't interact much with the audience apart from announcing when the last song is. Give this four-piece some time to hone their skills then just sit back and watch them captivate audiences across Australia.

Melbourne's art punk favourites Ouch My Face hit the stage in a tornado of shouting, loud guitar and clever lyrics. The energy in the room is high as frontwoman Celeste Potter screams through Junk Punk Baby and Creep Heart. Potter's voice is soft and sweet when she address the crowd, "The next song is Your Head Is My Hat," she says. "It's about physical violence I would like to start." There's a pause before she screams, "Start fights!"  The set is over way too soon, Potter thanks the audience and the other bands on the bill tonight before proudly announcing, "The end".

The night wraps up with Sydney's Mere Women. This four-piece play a set filled with their signature blend of dark goth-pop and driving post-punk songs. We are drawn in by singer Amy Wilson's strong vocal and captivating stage presence. Being stuck behind her keyboard doesn't stop Wilson from dancing along and you can hear the emotion she pours into each note and lyric. Mere Women play a few new tracks tonight and, before the second new track, Wilson says, "It's all new. We have a new bass player, some new songs."

The band perfect getting their message across via short songs and repeated lyrics. Their lyrics deal with the darker side of a relationship (Numb and Heave Ho) and facing adulthood (Hands & Face). Mere Women will always have a second home here in Melbourne. We can't get enough of their goth-pop-punk fusion.