A rugged-up, beanie-wearing mob stumbles across a damp floodlit paddock toward psychedelic sounds, cold hands shoved in pockets. The scene resembles a winter Woodstock, strange incense-like odours flowing across the field as white smoke signals ascend from the dark amphitheatre that is tonight’s venue.
A polished Midnight Juggernauts welcome cheerful Perthites, providing the perfect sounds to kick off the evening. A worthy act in their own right, the Melbourne three-piece have bodies and minds swaying with sampled sounds and tribal beats.
As time approaches for the headliners, a giant movie screen spews forth hypnotic tie-dye and hypercolour patterns to take the audience into a trance-like state. Synthetic sounds and psychedelic guitar melodies begin to flow seamlessly over old school rhythms.
Reminiscent of ‘70s progressive rock and played outdoors, the show has the feel of Pink Floyd’s Live In Pompei (except with an audience). Similar to the aforementioned group, Tame Impala don’tt seem interested in shocking theatrics or excessive banter, instead allowing the music and light show to take centre stage.
The creative genius behind Tame Impala, Kevin Parker, leads the group through a trippy set of new and old material. The audience is clearly enjoying the combination of kaleidoscopic light show, amazing natural amphitheatre and mind-expanding rock (and potentially other mind expanding factors). The show is almost a spiritual awakening as much as a live performance.
A seamless and civilised performance ensues. The group is professional and comfortable and don’t miss a beat. Rock songs like “Elephant” and “Half Full Glass Of Wine” get a few feet shuffling, but for the most part the show is a relaxed affair; a spectacle to behold but not to physically engage with.
“Lucidity” and “Alter Ego” evoke strange and distant emotions and memories from simpler times, now gone forever. Parker’s vocal effects seem to be travelling to us from a distant galaxy, like a lonely satellite eternally flying through space.
The venue holds sentimental value to the Perth locals and tonight the band farewells long-time bassist Nick Allbrook. Coincidently, the Belvoir was also the first venue Allbrook played with Tame Impala.
The Tame Impala trademark is a sound at once familiar but also unique, and this is what sets them apart from most other emerging psych bands. They have an intriguing ability to challenge the listener’s perceptions without dragging them too far from their comfort zone.
The formula not only works on this dark starless evening, but apparently also resonates with audiences across the world. As these lauded locals close another memorable and special show, it’s easy to see why they’ve been embraced in so many places.
