Live Review: Resound

Dangerous-looking clouds may have threatened to drench the performers, but it didn't stop a horde of people heading down to Perth Cultural Centre to enjoy a mini-festival's worth of WA musicians do their thing on Sunday afternoon. Nevada Pilot began proceedings in what would end up being a very rock'n'roll-inspired day, and the group pulled in plenty of passers-by. We were hit by some light rain, and while spectators took cover under trees and buildings, the openers lifted their game even higher to keep the crowd on their toes, and it worked – a special kudos to those guys for not letting their soaking clothes dampen their spirits. Next up was Mossy Fogg, who eased up the tempo a little but enchanted the growing audience with an incredibly raw and personal performance. Armed only with a guitar, the man captivated us with his growling low tones and amazingly steady high-ends. He was certainly a delight to watch and a welcome change to what was a heavier bill of bands for the rest of the day.

Pat Chow picked up the pace merely 15 minutes later with another strong rock performance. Their technical ability and songwriting finesse was supreme, with Bad Thoughts being a particular standout. PUCK brought an element of seriousness into the mix, the moody band offering the audience a drawn out, subdued fuzz-rock metal sound, delivering damaging drums and intense guitars. The dreamy low-fi was a welcome change from the more explicit styles we had heard earlier in the day, and it was only appropriate that FOAM would follow with an even fuzzier set of tracks. Both FOAM and their predecessor are compiling a split-EP in the months to come, and FOAM were more than happy to show us what they had brewing in rehearsal, presenting a new and upcoming tune that seemed to be catchier than ever, while still maintaining their recognisable fuzz-rock brand.

The Floors were the next act to take up the reigns, and they raised the bar even higher with an extremely entertaining form of bluesy rock'n'roll. They're known for their widespread popularity amongst the local scene and this was exemplified on the day, as the band drew the largest and most enthusiastic crowd yet. While the instrumental work was spot-on, Luke Dux's vocals were outstanding; tidy yet raw, and his expression in the delivery was incredible. The audience crept up to the very front of the stage for the first time that day for what was an engaging and enjoyable show.

Punter patience was required after that set when a downpour threatened to ruin everything. Such was the commitment and high spirits of the organisers that it was instead decided to move the entire thing inside the PICA Bar for the last two acts. This ended up being a blessing in disguise, as FAIM charmed the crowd with a theatrical take on '80s inspired punk rock. Donned in thick eye makeup, vocalist Noah Skape could have been placed in the middle of a Broadway performance and not look out of place in the slightest. The group were loud, gutsy and incredibly fun, and as a first-time viewer, I'll be keeping a keen eye on their movements over the next few months.

The Novocaines rounded off the evening, the day essentially being a lead-up to their single launch for Don't Wait, their third single release this year. The single in the limelight was certainly a take on the band's heavier experiments of late, and the crowd responded very positively to it, especially considering the theme of the day. Despite the shitty weather, it was fantastic to see so many people showing their support for some of Perth's hardworking artists, the old and the new. It was certainly a testament to the talent we have in this city, and we can all rest assured it shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.