Anticipation was supreme as hundreds of expectant fans packed The Corner Hotel on Wednesday evening to witness the renowned sounds of Californian-based indie outfit Surfer Blood.
Acknowledged for their engaging live performances of choppy guitars and powerful reverb, the quartet is slowly but surely amassing the hype reserved only for those with the greatest promise.
As excitement steadily grew within the famed venue, Melbourne locals The Harlots opened with an impressive display of vivacious intensity.
With vocalist Tom Pitts in explosive form, the six-piece delivered an energetic performance that drew heavily from debut album Coarse Tunes Parts I & II.
Ensemble in tow, Jeremy Neale was up next with a lively demonstration that showcased the melodious repertoire of the Brisbane act. Seamlessly weaving his way through numerous Spy Rock compositions, the Triple J luminary enthused the audience with several notable tracks including the heavily rotated fan-favourite, “In Stranger Times.”
Shortly thereafter, Surfer Blood unassumingly took to the stage, with vocalist John Paul Pitts graciously thanking the crowd for their generous reaction.
Commencing with unobtrusive openers “Twin Peaks” and “Say Yes To Me,” the band appeared rather fatigued and somewhat disinterested, though steadily improved as the night gradually wore on.
While recent releases “Demon Dance” and “Gravity” were understandably unrefined, concise instrumental interplay enabled the band to resurrect the otherwise disappointing performance.
The proficiency of Thomas Fekete on guitar, Kevin Thomas on bass, and Tyler Schwarz on drums was clearly established on fourth track “Miranda,” while the clean yet expansive vocals of Pitts were also showcased in a catalogue ranging from Astro Coast to Pythons.
Surging melody “Take It Easy” then punctuated the set as Pitts joined the crowd to shake hands and pose for photos in a mid-song ‘meet and greet’, while “Swim” was predictably well received for it’s soaring basslines and commanding chorus.
Though while the band was certainly gracious and congenial throughout the set, they also lacked the confidence and stage presence needed to engage the crowd.
On several occasions, Pitts even sought reassurance from the gathering, conscious of the ill-structured setlist and unfortunate lack of atmosphere, while monotonous encores “I’m Not Ready” and “Anchorage” further added to a lacklustre conclusion.
While Surfer Blood may therefore have the tools to produce an appealing studio release, they mostly struggle to exhibit the same prowess in unfamiliar territory.
While the performance may have been an irregularity of sorts, they must quickly reassess their setlist composition and onstage demeanour, or instead risk becoming an underwhelming and poorly received live band.
