Live Review: The Babe Rainbow, The Dandelion, The Good Morrows - The Workers Club

In the barn-like aura of The Workers Club bandroom, The Good Morrows start things off with some solid, psychedelic-rock tracks to help set the scene.

The Dandelion trip everyone out next with their gender-bending lead singer looking oh-so-beautiful in his elegant shift dress, eyeliner and black patent leather heels. Providing some musical multi-dimensional channeling via flute, trippy organ and mandolin-like guitar riffs, The Dandelion equally confuse and fascinate. With their deep-voiced frontman dancing about the stage like a spell-casting witch, they're definitely captivating some brand new fans tonight.       

Next up, The Babe Rainbow take Salvos vintage wear to a whole new level. Wearing plaid waistcoats, bell-bottoms and sexy brown skivvies, the trio is dressed to impress and lead guitarist Kool Breeze resembles a bleached blond, bearded Jesus. The lads kick off the love-in with Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest, a jaunty pop number with sitar-sounding twang. Lead singer Angus Dowling plays the drums while standing up, wearing granny sunglasses and a fetching silk scarf knotted at the side. It's all catchy with a splash of The Monkees, a touch of The Beach Boys and a little bit of Austin Powers just for the fun of it.

A couple of numbers in, Dowling pulls out the harmonica for Love Forever to  create a Bob Dylan moment among the technicoloured mayhem. The boys in the front rows take things up a notch by getting all pushy, stinky and sweaty – merrily holding up their beers as they head bang. Evolution 1964 is another highlight with its surf-rock vibe inspiring a few failed crowd-surfing attempts. One mesmerised punter is sufficiently psyched by Dowling's almost-monotone vocal to be overheard telling her BFF, “He's so hot.”  

Bass player Dr Eliot Love-Wisdom, luscious blond moptop and all, ends his band's performance with a peace-out parting message: “God bless each and every one of you, baby.” With all the peace, love and mung beans going down, The Babe Rainbow pull off the swinging '60s vibe with total charm, grooviness and major tongue-in-cheek fun.