Part three of five in their Anywhere Else EP tour saw Gung Ho return to home turf to a sell-out crowd in Brisbane.
A haven for local indie artists and appreciators alike, Black Bear Lodge came to life with a smorgasbord of retro beats and surf-pop riffs, with a trio of artists that fans of the genre had clearly been eagerly awaiting.
Kicking things off was Morning Harvey, a local five-piece with a sound that harks back to the droning distortion of the mid ‘90s. Their percussion-heavy set was well received by the earlier arrivals of the evening and nicely occupied the hunting-lodge vibe of the venue.
Following Morning Harvey’s successful set, featuring the very catchy “Sundown” off their soon to be released EP, Jeremy Neale and his band took to the stage to bring his undeniable ‘60s vibe, coloured blazers included.
Despite experiencing some guitar issues early on, Neale wasn’t fazed and launched into one of his stronger tracks, “Winter Was the Time”, showcasing strong vocals and a healthy dose of musical synergy with his band members.
Touring with Gung Ho on their national EP tour, it can be assumed this bunch of Brisbanites are having an absolute ball, each of them bringing a liveliness and unpretentiousness to their stage presence.
Looking like Bob Dylan in his prime (only a little skinnier) and closing with the retro-tastic “Darlin’”, (the standout of his set) Neale left the stage with high energy and a cheerful crowd.
When Gung Ho, namely Oliver Duncan and Michael McAlary (accompanied by Gabe Webster on percussion), opened with the sweeping guitar of ‘Brusca’, it was clear from the get-go that patrons were in for a real display of musicality.
McAlary demonstrated a confidence and effortlessness in providing the group’s lead guitar in the track, which harks back to the golden-era of beachy-pop.
Following “Twin Rays”, which saw the crowd converge to its incredibly catchy slow beats and groovy bass, the three played an unnamed song for only the third time to an audience. With a strong opening it’s bound to become a favourite and is hopefully up for release (and a name!) in the near future.
Released as a single last year, “Strangers” gained approval from rowdy fans before it was even played. After a couple of attempts at kicking off the song, the trio delivered an excellent performance driven by McAlary’s vocals. The catchy, harmonised chorus sat well in the tight confines of the venue and was a highlight of Gung Ho’s set.
“Autumn”, the first song off the Anywhere Else EP was preluded by McAlary stating that, “Heads up, I suck at this song.” Proving him wrong, “Autumn” made it clear that Duncan’s bass isn’t merely picking a beat; under his technically-excellent guide it provides depth and tone to the tracks that would otherwise be perilously close to pop.
Similarly, Watson’s skills of percussion aided in building the sound and pulling McAlary’s riffs and Duncan’s bass together, giving each track the undeniable hook that Gung Ho are lucky enough to possess.
With lyrics heavy in references to young love and the accompanying loss, they manage the uneasy task of presenting heavy topics to upbeat tunes. Duncan and McAlary’s voices are perfectly suited to one another; their live sound is the stuff of The Beach Boys’ dreams – soaring vocals, with bulk reverb and certifiably cruisey.
One of their older numbers, “Weekend Mothers” demonstrated the evolution that the band has gone through over the past two years. Giving Duncan a chance to take the reins with vocals, the track was a welcome break from McAlary’s distinct sound and a refreshing, stylistically different inclusion to the set. The wooden floor of Black Bear was literally heaving.
The crowd made their excitement and approval known when the two announced “Side By Side” as their closing song, and were then transported to the mid ‘70s with the tune’s catchy guitar opening and steady beat.
With a smile on every face and even dual crowd-surfers (including Campbell from Millions), the song truly went off and ended Gung Ho’s set with a bang.
