Deep Sea Arcade

Deep Sea Arcade are at point in their career that would have many other Australian bands feeling pretty jealous.

From their beginnings of artist initiatives and independent radio support back in 2008, the group are now throwing their weight around on the international scene, particularly in the UK where they now based themselves and featured at several festivals earlier this year.

Fittingly, their Australian tour over the past couple of months was titled ‘Welcome Back’, a chance to check in with their loyal fans and also showcase their latest single “Black Cat.”

For the Melbourne show, the final leg of the tour, Lurch And Chief opened the night.

The local six-piece provided a great wall of sound as the crowd dribbled in, rocking out with their powerful ballads and spurred along by commanding vocals from Hayden Somerville and Lili Hall.

Hey Geronimo, who had supported Deep Sea Arcade for most of the national tour, put the audience in a lighter mood, providing a colourful set that seemed fit for burrito stalls and ice cream ads.

Their summery, American teenage band aesthetic set an energy in the crowd and had everyone dancing.

A more mysterious mood was required for Deep Sea Arcade as the group stepped onto a stage swathed in red lighting.

Looping the sinister opening riff to “Seen No Right” set a keen sense of anticipation in the air as the crowd waited for the first song to begin.

Once started, frontman Nic McKenzie weaved his way around the dimmed stage, Afro-tastic guitarist James Manson’s black sequined bolero a mirror ball of light.

This captivating and punchy start featured everything that is characteristic of Deep Sea Arcade’s music, filled with bopping beats, catchy melodies, and McKenzie’s distorted vocals that transport listeners back to another time.

Their playing experience and transition onto the world stage was clearly evident, the set in its entirety controlled and tight, with quick transitioning in between songs.

Early on the five-piece played this year’s single “Black Cat,” a power chord driven piece that is somewhat more stadium rock than their body of work thus far, hinting at what listeners could expect of their 2014 sophomore album.

Reeling off tracks from debut album Outlands, the group pulled and stretched bits and pieces, facilitating some exciting instrumental breaks filled with reverberating guitar.

All hands were in the air for McKenzie as he took some photos of the adoring guests, the wheels set in motion for the incredibly catchy “Lonely In Your Arms.” The upbeat melody, with its melancholy undertone, clearly connected with the hearts of the crowd and had everyone singing along

Audience involvement was on the cards for “Keep on Walking,” McKenzie giving the crowd a quick lesson on the call-and-response, adding to what was already a very fun performance.

The 2011 single “Girls” was another highlight of the set, its expansive sound serving as a climax for the show, and proving that the band’s repertoire extends beyond simple catchy pop.

At the end of the set, Deep Sea Arcade left the stage to rapturous applause and chanting from the crowd. After a minute or so of waiting, the group re-entered, finishing with The Chemical Brothers’ “Let Forever Be,” providing layers of referencing with the song’s definitive nod to the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

The ending was just as punchy as the set had begun, all in all Deep Sea Arcade providing a set that was free-flowing yet at the same time incredibly polished.

Things can only get better it seems for 2014.

Deep Sea Arcade Setlist

Seen No Right
Granite City
Black Cat
Come Into My Garden
Don’t Be Sorry
The Devil Won’t Take You
Outlands
Steam
Lonely In Your Arms
Keep On Walking
Girls
Bring It Round

Encore
Let Forever Be (Chemical Brothers Cover)

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