Live Review: Jebediah, Tired Lion, Mt Mountain, Suburban & Coke, FOAM, The Sperts

The backyard was littered with the late afternoon and evening crowd soaking up the last rays of 2015, and for the first few hours of the night, this was where the majority of the early punters downed beers before heading into the main room or Four5Nine bar to check out the local talent on offer. Four5Nine bar put on a delicious array of local folk, grunge, punk and pop rock but it was local garage rock lads The Sperts who really got the party started smashing out some fun, party rocking tunes. One of the guitarists was even dressed for the occasion wearing a t-shirt with a tux imprint on it, practical and classy.

Meanwhile three-piece FOAM were taking over the main room, thrashing their luscious long locks around as they gave the small, gathering crowd an ear-full of their grunge-stained numbers All My Friends and So Far So Good. Vocalist Joel Martin also reflected on 2015 by announcing “Whatever 2015, fucking old news now aren’t ya. What did I do this year? Nothing. I got fatter”.

FOAM weren’t the only band to make grand announcements, local party punk lads Suburban & Coke had a rant about making sure the crowd was supporting Triple J Unearthed. These dudes were a definite highlight of the night – their energy was magnetic. Bopping, moshing, head-banging and singing went down as they thoroughly entertained the crowded room with their party madness and catchy tunes, bouncing around on stage.

Mt Mountain had a solid fan base watching their dramatic, psychedelic set which began with excessive strobe lighting and was filled with fuzz and heavy melodies. The lads seemed to make a lot of noise but there was very little movement on stage or engagement with the crowd and, with Suburban & Coke putting on their party next door, a few punters opted for the punk craziness.

Triple J Unearthed Award 2015 winners Tired Lion were a big drawcard and it wasn't until the local four-piece hit the stage that the main room started packing out. The grunge, pop-rockers belted through tracks off their 2015 record Figurine with popular tunes Pretend, Suck and I Don’t Think You Like Me resulting in body thrashing and singalongs from the moshing crowd.

Front-lady Sophie Hopes’ now blonde hair and stellar rocker presence likened her to Courtney Love and when she announced “We’d like you to get drunk and throw your bras at us and spit on us and then we’ll spit back at you”, it was solidified. Their cover of Violent Soho’s Saramona Said went off along with all the band members’ shirts, an unexpected but fun fragment of their tight set.

Local Perth legends Jebediah bought the big crowd into the new year with fan favourites Leaving Home, She’s Like A Comet, More Alone and Animal. Popular tune Jerks Of Attention also had everyone smiling and bopping along. It was great to see these guys back on stage again in their hometown with a local crowd, a real fitting finish to 2015 and a happy welcome into the new year.