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Live Review: The John Steel Singers, Go Violets, Neighbourhood Youth

Guido Farnell

The John Steel Singers’ brilliant vision for the quirky pop music they produce has been fleshed out in finer detail on their second record, which makes them one of the more unique voices to have emerged from Australia in recent years.

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You could do worse on a Friday night than sink cold ones at Ding Dong Lounge in the company of three fine Australian bands. When we arrive, Melbourne's Neighbourhood Youth are already loudly blazing away with a solid, indie rock sound that has a Kings Of Leon twang with more of a British indie twist. Despite their low-key stage presence, the lads work hard for their money, playing to just a handful of stoney-faced punters who look as though they need some convincing.

Brisvegas' all-girl group Go Violets provide a refreshing break from all the testosterone-driven rock on offer tonight. They deal a short, tight set comprising quick, three-minute tunes that veer from surf rock to harder, more garage-inspired territory but everything they do comes with irresistible pop hooks. Despite their confident swagger, the mix is kind of rough but it complements the outfit's raw, distorted energy. These bopping beats quickly induce the gathering crowd to do the bunny hop. In between songs, Go Violets make light of their relative youth and joke about meeting in high school and heading to schoolies next week. Cute but captivating vocal harmonies are the icing on the cake that makes it impossible to resist the charm of these babes from the sunshine state. Go Violets leave the stage with smiles on their faces, knowing that they have stolen hearts and won some new fans in Melbourne.

Celebrating the launch of their second album tonight, The John Steel Singers explode onstage with the title track off the album Everything's A Thread. It offers buoyant, feel-good vibes with plenty of groove that has just a hint of grinding garage in the undertow. They maintain the pace with Happy Before, which showcases their four-part harmonies that dreamily float over a bouncy pop tune that escalates into a frenetic crescendo. Feeding their collective indie-pop consciousness through an experimental R&B filter yields the surprisingly smooth, slow jam MJ's On Fire Again. It's a welcome comedown from the hyperactive intensity of State Of Unrest. Keyboard player Scott Bromiley – who sports a shaved head these days – laments the absence of his long, red tresses. The summery Strawberry Wine delivers plenty of “whoo-hoo-hoo” vocal action. Meanwhile, TGI Tuesdays aggressively moves into repetitious, mind-expanding, motoric rhythms.

After making it clear that they can't be bothered with a faux encore, the lads bring down the show with the joyously uplifting vibes of Rainbow Kraut, which is one of their older, crowd-pleasing favourites. The John Steel Singers' brilliant vision for the quirky pop music they produce has been fleshed out in finer detail on their second record, which makes them one of the more unique voices to have emerged from Australia in recent years.