Reviewed on Saturday June 6
Anyone who doubts the effect a quality bowl cut and moustache can hold on a gig need only have looked as far as tonight’s support act, Los Tones. For most, the four-piece outfit from Sydney tapped into some unkempt slapdash shambles, tinged with echoes of the ’60s. Underneath the jangly guitar, percussive beats galloped incessantly alongside frontman Bodie Jarman’s interaction with the crowd. Injected midway into their sonic catalogue, ‘Psychotropic’ generated moderate toe-tapping and arm-flailing, flowing in familiarities to The Murlocs while maintaining a grittier aspect in all the right places.
Equipped with a guitar and snare drums, enter next Wollongong natives Hockey Dad, who in their current form are comprised of childhood sweethearts Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming. When any act sells out six consecutive shows you expect a good display; when they do it without even an official full-length release yet, you know you’re in for something impressive.
Confined within the four walls of Oxford Street’s Brighton Up Bar, the duo well and truly stepped up to the plate, offering ‘Lull City’ as a bold introductory with ‘Beach House’ following its tail. The boys continued to build on their brand of unaffected ’70s slacker rock instilled with infectious harmonies and classically curated surf-pop power chords. There’s something crisp and easy to listen to in their lo-fi method that would feel suited to a muddy festival field with a crowd flapping in unison, accompanied by the occasional surfer passing above.
Effortlessly melding both recognisable and new tracks into their repertoire, Stephenson’s charisma and vocal duties teamed with Fleming’s persistent steadfast synchronised drumbeats is what gave Hockey Dad their backbone. ‘I Need A Woman’ held water above the rest; they had the crowd sitting in the palm of their very hands, lapping up every note, elevated vocal and guitar riff that oozed from the stage.
Perhaps this is what made it so jovial – how quickly what Hockey Dad eject can get under your skin and swim firmly through your veins. When you catch something right on the brink, right at the start and it still feels abundant – well that’s your ticket.
