Live Review: Taco Leg, Martyr Privates, Cannon, Occults

Originally Perth-based band (now primarily found in Melbourne) Taco Leg have spiralled up our way for the first time on the back of their self-titled LP, which has already seen quite the amount of fanfare flock towards it. Starting things off are relatively new band Occults who sit on this dirty fence between gothic rock and post-punk, with the group mixing sharp guitar and bleakly inaudible reverb-laced male/female vocals. It does sound like it has been done before by groups such as, but not limited to, Slug Guts and every act associated with the genre's staples – Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard. Still, it must be noted that there is a lot going on in here that will no doubt flourish into original ideas in due course.

Continuing on from Occults finds local rag-tag rapscallions Cannon who appear to be doing the regular motions as the group flails around the stage with lo-fi garage pop-punk piercing through the PA, the only apparent problem being that the volume is a tad low for them. They do not, however, seem to overly care and continue to deliver the goods, with tracks like Quite Enough working well within this environment and the group, as always, contributing an energetic vibe to proceedings.

Back again in the Spring Hill Hotel's revived Primitive Room following their appearance last week, Martyr Privates slam out a seemingly more (sonically expansive) punk set. Despite the group only having officially released a solitary 7”, all of their material has become quite familiar to their audience, really warranting a full-length release in hopefully the very immediate future. As per the norm with Martyr Privates, they're technically brilliant, provide interesting choices, a minimalist stage presence and also some great sound. Always a consistent proposition.

Just shy of midnight, Taco Leg take to the stage to a fair-sized crowd who seem to be intrigued by the happenings to date. The group deliver an enthralling set of minimalist Australiana punk along the lines of Adelaide's Old Mate (minus about four or five members) but with the group utilising simple one-string chord guitar playing in combination with hard-hitting drums and vocalist Andrew Murray's distinct vocal style and stage presence. Almost all of their stuff struggles to pass the two-minute mark and does not require much more, with the jerky Shut It Down and the newly Pitchfork-endorsed track, Raiders, amongst the standouts. All in all it's an interesting venture, a good close to the night and a strong enough performance that will no doubt find the group returning to Brisbane before we know it.