Reviewed on Friday August 22
Paul Conradoffered a tempered beginning at Newtown Social Club with a collection of melancholy tunes that easedthe trickling crowd into the night. Spookyland, usually just a one-man show, was an expanded band this time and offered rock with a twinge of Jeff Mangum-level emotion via Marcus Gordon’s vocals.
Sydney trioBloodsbrought their garage punk A-game, proving you don’t need much more than a guitar, drums and a bass to make catchy-as-hell music. ‘Into My Arms’ was a screamer and new song ‘Penelope’ was great fun. All killer, no filler and over way too soon.
On the night of their eponymous record release,Velociraptorbounded onstage one by one until their seven-strong lineup was all present and accounted for. ‘Riot’ whipped the keen crowd into a frenzy early on, and lead raptor wrangler Jeremy Neale introduced the new record opener ‘Robocop’ as “the first thing you’ll hear because it’s the first track,” further explaining “it’s symbolism.” The set was a great mix of old and new with World Warriors “rarity” ‘Scientists’ and ‘The Walk On By’ between new material like ‘Cool Baby, Cool’.
Their instrumental fluidity was on show too with varying combinations, as was their ability to improvise. When the keyboardist dashed offstage, Neale took charge: “Lauren’s gonna throw up in the bathroom, I’m gonna play drums and George is gonna sing for a bit.” After a search party was sent to check on the erstwhile Lauren, ‘The Right To Call You’ amped up the crowd even more.
With tea in hand Lauren returned, and guitarist Julien James apologised for “saying she was dead, she isn’t,” prompting a chant of “Resurrection! Resurrection!” Despite feeling “like a rat’s ass” after partying until5am,Bloods bassist Sweetie Zamora joined the crew for ‘One Last Serenade’.
They cemented their reputation as the band with the most people onstage at once with the catchy single ‘Ramona’, which saw a hefty chunk of the enthusiastic crowd pour onto the stage, shouting along to the chorus. With an invitation to party with the band after the show, Neale and co. threw out one last chorus before taking their leave.
