Tired LionFEYEK kicked off proceedings to a small and quiet bunch of people, showcasing their lullsy instrumental tunes. It was an unusually long bill for an EP launch, but nonetheless, the duo secured the stage. Thee Gold Blooms picked up the pace after a short 15-minute break, wooing the crowd with an infectious blend of surf-pop that could have been relevant in any decade of music from the '70s onwards. The quartet's setlist was built beautifully with gradually increasing momentum, and as a first-timer seeing the group do their thing, I'll be keeping a keen eye on them; they certainly had mine and the rest of the rapidly growing audience's attention. Big Splash grand finalists These Winter Nights were the next group to take command of the stage, and they showed once again why they have Perth in a buzz, playing a wonderfully diverse set containing everything from ballads to jigs. Their ability to build layer onto layer reaching dazzling crescendos is no doubt their biggest strength and most appealing asset; and what's better, the group continue to improve as time goes on. Given they've got a bunch of industry folk on their side following Big Splash, their prospects seem extremely bright. Watch this space.
After a slightly longer break, Sugarpuss took to the stage. Having only seen them once before, I'd forgotten how much fun they were to watch – their tunes were super groovy and they produced some insanely catchy riffs. Lead vocalist/guitarist Jake Webb's voice was in supreme form and the band had no dramas taking the inebriated crowd on a fuzzy, sunburnt journey into the hour before midnight, exploring a range of influences including ambient synth jams and some real swell psychedelic rock. We had a great time.
The crowd continued to get rowdier with anticipation as the minutes ticked by between sets. Finally, the opening guitar sequence to Tired Lion's most recognised tune, For The Wolfman, was heard through the speakers and within a second, the crowd was cheering with encouragement at the band members, who hadn't yet taken the stage. Vocalist Sophie Hopes wisped her way in front of the mic and sang delicately into it before the chorus hit and we were struck by the full force of the band. From there, the band never looked back, playing a bunch of songs from different sections of the catalogue. Long-time fans were eager to hear the new material from the EP released just a day before, and the band didn't disappoint. First single, Desperate, was a belter, with Hopes' powerful high-end a great showcase for just how strong her vocals are, while Little Girl was a slower tune but backed up with equally powerful musicianship to produce a sound reminiscent of a fuzzy '90s psych-groove. The crowd was intoxicated by the band's tunes the entire set, and it was fantastic to see such a big turnout for a local band's first EP. We wish them all the best from here!
