Live Review: The Monikers, Life In Letters, Mackenzie

Fresh off their all-conquering run at the South Australian National Campus Band titles last week, Mackenzie were the first to hit the stage albeit a little late but ever as wonderful. They kicked things off with tracks I've Been and What's That with their blend of sometimes sweet always powerful indie pop, but it was a shame not many patrons had ventured in yet to see the band. Lead singer Emily Bettison filled the room with her voice; it's amazing to see how far the band has come in the little over a year since forming. The penultimate song of their set, a cover of The Zutons' Valerie, brought a couple of the stragglers from the front bar out onto the dancefloor, including one Mark Zuckerberg lookalike whose new age dance moves knocked over a table and he found himself cut off at the bar.

Life In Letters are the legends who set up the gig and were up next. They moved through a couple of their older tracks, including The Unsalted Sea, the title track to an EP they released in May last year. Playing a set much like the band before, things ramped up, and as they closed the set life didn't seem all too doom and gloom but more like the moment John Bender from The Breakfast Club thrusts his fist high in the air.

Last on were The Monikers, with Luke O'Dwyer fronting on guitar for both them and Mackenzie earlier on. They're the chameleons of the local scene; it's interesting to listen to a Monikers set where each song can represent a different genre. Opening with the bluesy rock of Mine, the band moved to the sweet indie pop tunes of Morning Sun and then into a ballad midway through their set. They were joined by Emily Bettison for a couple tracks, including arguably their best, Don't Know What To Do, and at the set's conclusion, the patrons slowly trickled back out of the band room and into the night.

Three great bands, all with new music around the corner — the future of the Adelaide scene has never looked brighter.