Fishing, an outfit that is almost impossible to Google, kicked off the Friday night festivities at The Corner Hotel. Hailing from the Blue Mountains, the duo of Doug Wright and Russell Fitzgibbon brought what they call “blizz beats” to the early revellers.
Their DJ set, which also comprised of some rapping, sent some heavy beats through the venue, but undoubtedly their music was destined to flourish more at the club they had booked in to play later that evening.
Supporting act The Preatures have just released their second EP Shaking Hands and solid reviews are already starting to come in. The potential of their recorded offerings shines through on their live set, with Isabella Manfredi taking centre stage, barely moving initially but her commanding vocals were the only thing this crowd needed to be entertained.
For the uninitiated, it would have come as a complete surprise to see Gideon Bensen move from looking uninterested, yet casually suave, on Manfredi’s left to taking her place in the centre and jumping around stage like the old fashion rock ‘n’ roll frontman he was trying to embody; not just with his fashion, but the band’s music.
When the two singers come together – quite intimately at some points – the blend of contrasting vocals with the band’s almost gothic rock tunes creates a raw energy which gave the crowd a thrilling sample of what they’re capable of.
Deep Sea Arcade have been rising in notoriety in the Australian music scene for a while now, but with the release of their debut album, Outlands, their popularity has spiked.
A headline tour was probably not something that many would have predicted this time a year ago.
But the venue was almost full, with even notable punters such as Oh Mercy frontman Alexander Gow and Something For Kate singer Paul Dempsey drawing many a gaze from their fellow attendees.
The energy of this five piece from Sydney quickly shifted the attention as the opening atmospherics made way for ‘Seen No Right’.
The next three tracks – ‘The Devil Won’t Take You’, ‘Don’t Be Sorry’ and ‘Steam’ – showcase some of the moret deadly ear worms of the band’s debut.
While most songs ended with rapturous applause, that was about as crazy as it got as the frontman implored the crowd to do their best zombie pose for his camera.
Deep Sea Arcade had the energy and musicianship to replicate their recordings in the live show format with much success, something which has been a vast improvement from where the band were a year ago.
But while there was little wrong with the band’s performance, McKenzie’s vocals at times stood out as being noticeably weaker on stage compared with the record.
Ending with ‘Outlands’, a highlight not only on record but in the live show also, it demonstrated the promise that Deep Sea Arcade hold as a band – sounding like no other in this country at the present time.
Just like their record, their show at the Corner is a testament to what the band could achieve, rather than what they have achieved.
