Live Review: Totally Mild, Terrible Truths, Small World Experience, The Shifters, Simona Castricum

Another big night at The Tote!

Armed with two fluorescent yellow drum sticks, Simona Castricum opens the night and it's a typical sea of samples coupled with electronic drums and distant, incoherent vocals, which is typically Melbourne: a dark, electronic affair. It picks up as the sub bass does and overall it's not a bad way to open, but not mind-bending.

It's always interesting watching the birth of a new genre and that baby's name is IDW (Intelligent Dolewave). At least that's how The Shifters come across with their presentation and overall sound, which is polished in its delivery yet still retains personality (notably during their Andy Kaufman cover, I Trusted You). If that's not enough to go off, check out their next gig — they nail it tonight.

Small World Experience follow. The band have such an extensive history and legacy, and they justify this status tonight. The group's sound feels as authentic and relevant today as during their '90s heyday and it's all achieved through simple, straight-up indie-rock and quality songwriting. It's good to see this band back together playing shows and although the odd issue pops up here and there within their set, it's a privilege to see them on tonight's bill.

The sold-out sign goes up and the room is packed for Terrible Truths. The band deliver to this enthusiastic audience from the get-go. Everything just goes right from song to song with amazing sound and a well-constructed set. The real joy comes in watching the interplay between the three-piece on stage, which feels so natural and translates into a really tight performance. The enthusiasm that comes off the bombastic riffs and all-angles-attacked drums comes across and it would be hard not to get involved. Every drop of beer spilt as a result of the crowded room is worth it for this show.

Rounding out this mammoth night, Totally Mild follow. As with Terrible Truths before them, everything goes right. Although as the name suggests, it is a milder affair than that of Terrible Truths but it is nothing short of hypnotic (especially during later moments). Musically, everything feels intricately layered and they nail the balance between dream-pop, indie-rock and psych. Believe the hype that has come to surround this band as tonight is bliss.