Live Review: Tame Impala, Koi Child, Leure

The eclectic, neo-psychedelic Tame Impala played a sell-out show on Rotto last Sunday. It was definitely a gig that meant a great deal to Kevin Parker's Perth-bred five-piece, after no doubt spending much of their youth trudging around the city's pub/nightclub scene; to play an intimate gig on Rottnest to no more than a few hundred of their most dedicated fans was clearly something special. But it was more than just a hometown gig. For most it was a full 'weekend experience' with lasting vibes, good food and, yes, enough revelry to match the expectations of everyone's holiday island.

With the autumn weather beginning to look pretty grim, Leure, the solo electronic project of Ash Hendriks, kicked off with an early afternoon set packing some intensely chilled beats, layered with nifty guitar work and whole bunch of her ominous vocals. It was a great scene, the entire crowd totally relaxed on the ground around the stage - beer flowing, smoke prominent. Leure left a lasting impression, a perfectly chosen opening act to set a unique vibe for the rest of the night.   
 
Next on were brand new jazz-fusion hip hop collective Koi Child, who played their second-ever gig to a rapidly growing crowd. Led by bar-spitting freestyling frontman Shannon Cruz Patterson, their stage presence was immediate. They genuinely felt like a band who'd been kicking around for years, every member of the seven-piece working together in complete harmony. Koi Child even managed to get a completely sedated crowd on their feet and grooving to some clever wordplay and impressive flows, all backed up by a solid bass line, drum beat, and keys laced with some unforgettable trombone solos (not even joking, they were that good.)     
  
At dusk, Tame Impala took to the stage and immediately burst into an unexpectedly energetic version of It's Not Meant To Be - they were clearly going to give it their all and make this gig one to remember. Highlights from a very diverse set included Endors Toi, an extended version of Be Above It and an unexpected but equally brilliant Flaming Lips cover, Are You A Hypnotist? They went on to play a lasting two-song encore to a cheering crowd.

Tame Impala brought their own mini-festival experience to Rottnest Island. Between the two equally diverse supporting acts, daytime setting and good vibes, they managed to create something truly memorable for their fans who were committed enough to stomach a 35-minute, vomit-inducing ferry ride to a damp, windswept rock in the Indian Ocean.  We're proud to say they're West Australian.