An Adelaide band with a prog/psychedelic sound, Ride Into The Sun reminded of a beefed-up Kinks with the added relish of a great keyboard sound.
Tonight the band are relying on a wall of sound technique to get a strong message across to the audience. The lineup of bass, drums, highly complementary guitarists and the well-chosen retro sounds of keyboardist Jess are able to demand the attention and approval of the audience in a way unusual for an opening act.
The solid, demonstrative chord-work of rhythm guitarist Ant allows main guitarist/vocalist Todd to slash and burn through the leads, the pair veering into garage-grunge territory. This diversion ignites the potential of the band and takes them beyond the limits of the prog/psychedelic milieu. The work of drummer Dan and bassist Adam is high impact at all times and helps to solidify the impression of a band with its head and heart pointing in the same direction.
It’s a great synthesis of the classic semi-acoustic Epiphone/Gibson 335 sound with a gutsy female keyboardist/vocalist and a live presence that demands attention. Long may they ride.
Now it’s time for the headliners – Dinosaur Jr. – featuring the classic lineup of guitarist and vocalist J Mascis, drummer Murph, and bassist Lou Barlow.
With a brief hello from the rolling hills of Massachusetts, the trio begin a show that grows rapidly in intensity with each song. It’s like seeing a machine that draws upon its own energy to free itself from the constraints of time, distance, and longevity to find relevance and reality in the here and now.
Up close you can see the way that Lou and Murph crank each song into life, occasionally from a false start, as if they have to find the right incantation to breathe the song into being and create something real from each experience. And J Mascis’s mastery of the effects pedal drives the guitar sound in such a way that it easy to believe he could create any noise he wanted.
This is not showbiz; it’s musical reality. As far removed from stadium rock as possible and capable of rising to the level of awesome.
Together the band seem to be the voice of anti-pop. It’s a dense, focused, and otherworldly performance, driven by the commitment of a trio of sonic warriors who reach deep inside to take the audience on a musical journey.
Overall it’s a 10/10 night, with a great headline act, a fabulous bunch of young musicians as a support act, and a perfect venue for an intimate and exceptional musical experience.
