Live Review: Press Club, White Blanks, Sports Bra

Sports Bra graced the stage to warm up the crowd, playing what could be characterised as indie-pop. Their set and tunes had a very DIY vibe about them – you could just imagine the group coming together in a garage to have written them and totally see them at a raucous house party. Their set was groovy and engaging enough to get a few up dancing. Catchy new track Survival went down a treat and could easily feature in the summer playlists of 2018.

The DIY vibe kept going with White Blanks hopping up to play. The Wollongong trio favoured a sound that meshed together elements of garage, psych, grunge and punk, however, this just resulted in some in-your-face, heavily distorted guitars with vocals over the top. Nonetheless, they played with a youthful energy that got the crowd moving.

Melburnians Press Club drew a criminally small crowd to The Lair this evening. From the get-go, we knew there was going to be no slowing down as they ripped into their first song of the set. Lead singer Nat Foster was already owning her section of the stage, running forward and flicking her back for full effect. She was high energy and in-your-face, wanting to make sure we felt it too.

The four-piece played like a well-oiled machine but didn’t skimp on the charisma and vigour. It would be easy to dismiss Press Club as just another punk band, but there is something potent about their sound that leaves you wanting more. It’s clean yet captures a youthful exuberance both on and off record that makes you feel alive.

A blistering rendition of My Body’s Changing swung around those in the crowd who weren’t yet dancing, with a few patrons up the front seeming to already know every word. Some new tracks were showcased before Headwreck was given a spin, sending Foster into overdrive. It’s a shame there wasn’t more of a raucous crowd, as this would have been a perfect circle pit and singalong moment.

The opening notes of Suburbia renewed crowd excitement and singalongs ensured “I left my heart in the suburbs oh-oh…” closed the blistering 45-minute set in the most perfect way. Watch this space, this isn’t the last you’ll hear of Press Club.