Live Review: Stonefield, Magic Bones, Destrends

It’s a largely empty room when Melbourne’s Destrends arrive, but that fazes them little, the trio holding their own with a well-placed cover of Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes. Bass player and lead vocalist Matt Savage stomps his place with a bellowing swagger and vocal line eerily similar to that of Glenn Danzig, drummer Nathan Savage impressively laying down the kick drum with a broken foot while guitarist Billy Watts rides a series of sharp wah pedal solos, closing off with My Friend. 

Magic Bones waste little time, bursting into pulsing garage surf rock, their short and fiery set oozing cool with Anytime Anywhere, Devil’s Spawn and new single, Danger I Am. With a series of instrument swaps, bouncing energy and beach-punk reverb, they plaster smiles on punters across the room. 

From the opening of Strange Eyes, Stonefield drop jaws with their musical growth as they’ve come into their new album. The slow psychedelic jam sways back and forth through a marching bass line and ominous key fills, the now more packed room still so detached and unmotivated it feels eerily like an A&R showcase. The four sisters can’t set a foot wrong regardless, with guitarist Hannah Findlay gripping her SG with precision while leaning into each solo, transforming the six-string from feisty lead to rich, underlying groove at the drop of a hat. Inevitably it’s still key rotation tracks such as Diggin’ My Way Out, Black Water Rising and Through The Clover that pull the biggest response, but they sit in the shadows of the road-testing material forthcoming. As the group’s sound has evolved immensely since their last release, they’ve stepped deeper into neo-psychedelia, allowing keyboardist Sarah Findlay and bassist Holly Findlay to come into their own in building a swirling atmosphere and showcasing Golden Dream and Memories In The Sky. Drawing to a close with the classic rock throwback of Put Your Curse On Me, vocalist Amy Findlay leaves nothing behind as the band strike the end of a successful run of shows around the country and hopefully take one step closer to revealing the remainder of their new tracks.