Reviewed on Saturday June 21
Extensive gigging and touring with the likes of Bluejuice, Richard In Your Mind and Bearhug have given Jody far more experience under their belts than their age would let on. Stylistically, they incorporate aspects of both the garage rock revival of the early 2000s and the homegrown indie-pop boom of the late 2000s, often blending chirpy guitar swagger with hollered, hoarse refrains. It’s sharp, digestible and catchy – it would take the sternest of critics to not soften to Jody’s charm. They do exactly what they say on the tin, and they do it in style. The kids are alright, folks.
How Melbourne-via-Perth’s Mining Boom sound depends entirely on whether vocalist Paul French is playing guitar or not. If he isn’t, it’s icy and robust synth-driven post-punk. When he is, it brings out a spring in the band’s step, particularly if we’re talking some of the older singles like ‘Telecom’ and ‘PDA’. Perhaps Mining Boom’s strongest trait is the fact they push something substantial and genuinely interesting, regardless of the direction the music itself takes. It’s a shame that Mining Boom don’t turn up on more bills, really. They’ve far more to offer than most.
When Bad//Dreems frontman Ben Marwe pulls out his guitar, a splatter of blood is spotted across the fretboard. It shows no signs of attempts at cleaning, and it will probably last there forever. That’s the kind of band Bad//Dreems are. They go to the bone in every performance. It’s sneering, it’s loud, it’s defiant. It’s equal amounts punk rock as it is pub rock. It’s a raised fist and a cheeky crowd-surf. It’s an experience that will pry the raging rabble-rouser out of the highest order of cross-armed cynic.
Songs played from the band’s forthcoming debut get just as much love as the singles, including ‘Caroline’ and ‘Hoping For’. It may well have something to do with the sheer promise that bleeds from these new tracks in the same way those singles did. Nothing, however, can prepare one for the final trifecta the Adelaide natives have in store: ‘Cuffed & Collared’ hits for six, ‘Dumb Ideas’ is a primitive punk barnstormer, and it’s all brought home at Goodgod with some good God – the Melbourne punk variety, that is, with a blistering rendition of ‘My Pal’. It’s a rough-and-tumble joy to behold. Bloody oath.
