Tin Can Radio belongs in Melbourne. The Brisbane-based band’s EP launch took place at The Workers Club, and their orange chinos, leather jackets, and skinny jeans all scream the casual, cool vibe of the Melbourne music scene.
The sound of their music, mellow rock infused with electronic airiness, perhaps reminiscent of The Temper Trap and Foster The People, experiments with different styles within the rock genre. Perhaps most accurate would be lead singer Tom Wearne’s opinion, who at one point refers to their sound as “post-rock.” Everything about their sound is experimental, modern, and cool.
It’s a bit of a busy noise, but the audience seems to respond well to it. The upbeat tones are complemented by a slightly jazzy, sexy element created with the band’s occasionally featured saxophone and trumpet, such as in “These Days”. There’s certainly no absence in attendants in the room, and constant movements appear to be happening around the front of the stage.
Vocalist and guitarist, Tom Wearne, has a strong on-stage presence, a captivating voice and a strong ability to build rapport with his audience. He makes culturally sensitive Melbournian-converted tram jokes, gives extreme thanks to “Morgan on the sound desk,” and encourages the audience to sing the “Na Na Na Na” sequence in their song “Kaleidoscopes”.
Wearne competes for attention with bassist, Jack Potter, a somewhat distracting – albeit inspired – performer that allows his entire body to incorporate the sounds of the music. At some point, Potter takes his shoes off during the performance, and then continues to whip his hair back and forth to the beat, dancing audaciously.
Their song “It Goes On” is a particular highlight of the evening, incorporating classic rock features and dance-heavy indie qualities, whilst not succumbing to the band’s occasionally overly busy sound.
The room buzzes with “Hot Trash”, a song that not only showcases Wearne’s vocal allurement, but also the musical eccentricity of the band. The beats are odd, unexpected, but succeed in captivating the audience. An extraordinary saxophone number fills the room with buzz, generating a ubiquitous clap from the audience.
Tin Can Radio is triumphantly experimental in sound, successfully fusing elements of rock, electronics and metal into a unique tone for the band. They’re engaging, more than capable of conducting a quality performance with clean sound, and perhaps most importantly, adept at forming strong rapport with new and returning audiences.
