With a sold out EP launch at The Toff in July, and another EP due out in a matter of months; Melbourne band Agility, have been playing plenty of gigs around town recently.
Their smooth blend of psychedelic grunge has seen them secure a month-long Wednesday night residency at The Evelyn supported by some of Melbourne’s best up and coming bands.
The evening’s openers, Lourdes, pulled the largest crowd of the night. Their curious and versatile blend of music was reminiscent of a range of great British rock bands from the Arctic Monkeys to The Beatles.
Their performance went from dark to light and from upbeat to melancholy. The transitions in between were smooth and subtle, taking the listener on a melodic journey. The band’s lead vocalist had a unique,beautiful vocal style that drew several members of the crowd towards the stage, however the backing vocalists were flat and detracted slightly.
Given that Lourdes had replaced a fourth member with an iPod, the band should be commended on how tightly they played. It was easy to see why this little known band had a large turn-out.
Le Garcons followed Lourdes, but fell short of their predecessor’s performance. While their energetic brand of classic, upbeat rock was well played, the band lacked stage presence.
Their frontman spent a large portion of the performance with his back to the audience and it seemed as though their hearts weren’t really in the performance.
While the punters of Brunswick definitely don’t keep regular hours, it was a stretch for even them to stick around until 11.30. When Agility finally took the stage there only about fifteen people left in the crowd.
This was a shame because Agility put on an outstanding performance. The four-piece had a seamless, tight performance that seemed effortless. Despite the dwindling crowd, they remained enthusiastic and energetic until the end.
The vocals of frontman Matt Stapleton, were the perfect combination of smooth and edgy. Stapleton hosts a fantastic vocal range effortlessly climbing to falsetto before diving down in “Rainbow Youth.” Unlike many live performances, Agility’s music sounded better live than on their EP.
Agility are a great reminder of the high calibre of talent that exists in Melbourne’s local music scene. Their bizarre breed of music, probably best described as Nirvana meets Tame Impala, is evidence that great, original music is just waiting to be discovered. Displaying a professionalism and talent that is scarcely observed by bands of Agility’s status.
– Cara Jackson
