Live Review: The Black Seeds, The Cheap Fakes

There was no denying the abundance of Kiwi accents on Thursday night as Perth's New Zealand contingent made their way through the doors of The Bakery for The Black Seeds' sold out show. First on stage, The Cheap Fakes from Brisbane donned their best suits and waistcoats and established themselves as a more than worthy amuse bouche. Blasts of infectious reggae and ska got the crowd moving in a highly co-ordinated fashion. The token New Zealand drummer was granted a lengthy solo to entertain the homesick crowd. The gap between support and main act then drew out a bit longer than usual and created a definite sense of anticipation in the crowd. This enabled the growing atmosphere created by the 'Fakes to cultivate further to a point whereby it was tangible.

The room inevitably exploded as the seven-piece The Black Seeds hit the stage with an air of class and a hint of mischievous intent. The 'Seeds played a variety of old and new, including many songs from their new album Dust & Dirt, such as Pippy Pip. Upon request from the crowd the lyrics of old time favourite Cool Me Down from their 2007 album Into The Dojo turned The Bakery into a communal sing-along.

There was a decent mix between traditional slow reggae beats and more upbeat electric rhythms incorporated into new songs that old 'Seeds fans may not be accustomed to. The fluidity of the gig is a positive representation of the experience and professionalism of The 'Seeds. Their ability to get the crowd moving is second to none as many revellers refused to let the limits of their personal space or that of the people around them confine them. It is easy to see from their live shows how The Black Seeds have established a large and loyal support across Australia and New Zealand.