Sydney’s Metro Theatre played surrogate home to the cities hipster crowd with a collection of bearded, skinny-legged individuals littering the street in drones. These music-lovers were out in the cold for only one reason; to witness one of the bright sparks in the indie rock music scene.
With their last appearance in Australia being over three years ago at Laneway Festival, L.A. indie rockers Local Natives owned The Metro.
After the release of their brilliant debut Gorilla Manor (2009) and fresh off the release of their highly acclaimed sophomore album Hummingbird (2013), the quartet mesmerised the crowd with beautifully harmonised vocals, a lightning beat, melodic guitar phrases and spooky electric synth effects.
Bringing along emerging Unearthed Melbourneites Texture Like Sun and the new supposed indie supergroup New Gods, it was expected by revelers to be a fantastic night. The lineup really focused on the future of the indie rock scene, which created a sense of new discovery.
Melbourne’s Texture Like Sun greeted the growing crowd and played an intimate yet rhythmically powerful set. Their mixture of brooding crescendos focusing on Cesar Rodrigues’ rich brazen voice and the support of great hooks in the piano and Pip Norman’s masterful guitar melded beautifully to the ear.
With their songs focusing on heartbreak and love, it was the most intimate performance of the night, especially considering the calm blue lighting and the band sitting on stools. Amazing songs were ‘One Great Prize’ and ‘Bottle’ with the rich quality of Rodrigues’ voice being the centerpiece within a 45 minute set that left people wanting more.
Newcomers New Gods, made up of Little Red’s Dominic Byrne (vocals and guitar) and Adrian Beltrame (guitar), Eagle And The Worm’s Richard Bradbeer (bass) and Sam Raines (drums) and Ground Components’ Dale Pickard (keys), picked up the pace with their energetic and humorous set.
They came out with unbridled energy and tomfoolery. Their distinctive sound of reverberated discordant guitar and syncopated drumbeats energised the crowd, especially considering the erratic rockstar moves on show.
Special mention should go to Byrne and Beltrame as their wrestling with their guitars and microphones was quite entertaining.
Electric synth effects, powerful drum beats, a freaking saxophone in stages stood out in tracks like ‘On Your Side’, ‘Klipse’ and ‘Razorblades’. They powered the stage under chaotic red lights with a flurry of shredding guitar movements, crashing drum-kits and even a guitar thrown on the stage for good measure.
Waiting 40 minutes for the arrival of the main event sent chills throughout the crowd. The quartet stood to the side of stage eagerly awaiting the absolute adoration of their fans.
When the lights dimmed and Local Natives fronted the stage with the high ghostlike harmonies of singer Kelcey Ayer’s tenor voice on ‘You And I’ changing the mood of the night.
The acoustics of The Metro emphasised hyperactive drumming, electronic synth, reverberated Afro-pop guitar and the controlled beauty of Ayer’s voice mixed with harmonies echoed against the walls.
Local Natives explore a diversity of genres with their music and it is a delight to see it performed live. Crossing between indie pop ballads ‘Heavy Feet’ and ‘Airplanes’, rock anthems ‘Wide Eyes’ and ‘Sticky Thread’ and folk influenced arrangements like ‘World News’ and ‘Sun Hands’ highlights the growth that this band has gone through musically.
The quick changes in tempo within ‘Warning Signs’ and the change from melodic passages to a shouting chant equipped with a ferocious drum beat is but one of the examples of musical expertise on display at a Local Natives show.
Natives fans chanted other favourites like ‘Colombia’, ‘Mt. Washington’, ‘Ceilings’, ‘Bowery’, ‘Wooly Mammoth’ and ‘Who Knows Who Cares’.
The mixture of staccato rhythms, strong high arching vocals and melodic interplay between instruments were recurring themes of the night.
As Local Natives embark on the rest of their tour nationally and across the globe, indie diehards should definitely check these guys out as their live show is definitely something to be witnessed. Hopefully these indie rockers return to Australia soon.
