Live Review: Sugar Army, Red Jezebel, Usurper Of Modern Medicine, Leure

The early arrivals at the Rosemount tonight were treated to the majestic aural sounds of electronic soloist Leure (of Wolves At The Door fame). Brandishing a Gibson ES-3 series blues guitar, Leure sang enchanting, melancholic melodies in a trip hop style to sequenced electronic backing tracks, which set the night off to a pleasant start. Following her, Usurper Of Modern Medicine took to the stage with an intensity that never had a dull moment. The short set of tracks from their Turbo Handshake and Acid Chess releases was full of pounding high-energy drums and driving bass over haunting electro/analogue warbles.

Usurper's audio assault set the stage nicely for a rare live show from perennial Perth faves Red Jezebel. Opening with Wide Open Spaces, the full sound resonated around the room with crunchy guitar wails and distorted overdrive. Lead singer Paul Wood made comment on how infrequently the Jezebels play shows these days and thanked the main act for giving them the opportunity to perform. Looking like genuine rock stars they proved song after song that they haven't lost any of their flair, and fought admirably through a few technical difficulties. Playing through tracks taken from the first studio release Revelations and the 2007 album How I Learnt To Stop Worrying, Red Jezebel finished an enthusiastic set with the single Kicking Deadly Sins, much to the delight of devoted fans.

Finally the room was packed out and suitably fuelled up for Sugar Army. Opening with Future Spark – the first track from the new album Summertime Heavy – singer Pat McLaughlin's distinct vocals cut through the rock guitar riffs and thumping bass perfectly. The indie-rock vibe continued with Will You Follow and its catchy keyboard and guitar riff. Performing a seriously tight set the band looked the part throughout, paying more attention to getting on with songs than conversing with the audience, whose appreciation was obvious when the first of the older songs Tongues In Cheeks rolled out with more solid vocals and anthemed guitar mangling. Ending the show appropriately with the new album's title track, the at-times conventional rock sound was well received and scored rapturous applause from a crowd thrilled to have Sugar Army back on stage.