Reviewed on Thursday September 10
Less than a year into their existence, Sweater Season have rapidly developed into a must-see Sydney band. A side project for one half of Oslow – who themselves are fresh from a Motion City Soundtrack support and a Poison City Weekender appearance alongside the other two acts on the bill – the quartet are a blend of Slowdive guitar tone, proto-grunge dynamics and the more reflective, sombre moments of Sonic Youth’s mid-period. Single ‘Top Heavy’ is proving to be one of the year’s sleeper tracks, while ‘Happy’ unleashes sun-kissed guitars on shoegazing misery. ’Tis the season, after all.
It was around this time last year that Postblue were playing another Weekender-based tour, alongside Pity Sex, at this very venue. While there are mainstays here – the fantastic ‘Ugly’ and ‘Honey’ – the band has also changed things up in its time away from the Inner West. For one, Postblue are a quartet again – that’s Hopeless alum Brett Sutton on guitar – and they have a batch of slower, dreamier new songs in their arsenal. The as-yet-untitled finisher is the highlight, allowing the set to fade gently into a haze with its ethereal lead guitar and surprisingly gentle rhythm section.
Although attendance numbers unfortunately dwindled following the withdrawal of Modern Baseball, New York punks Iron Chic knew all too well the show must go on. Besides, there is still plenty to celebrate, even in the face of the unfortunate circumstances leading to the headliners’ cancellation. This marks Iron Chic’s maiden voyage to Australia, and it is clear many have been waiting a considerable amount of time to see them. Perhaps the best way to describe the Iron Chic fandom is ‘cultish’ – there’s only a small group, but those that are here know every word to every song. Including the backing vocals.
Theirs is a solid live presence, almost in defiance of the fact it is the band’s fourth show in as many days. Lead singer (and Kevin Owens doppelgänger) Jason Lubrano throws himself around the stage, bounding fearlessly into all-in chorus after all-in chorus. Sitting in on the tour, too, is guitarist Mattie Canino – formerly of Latterman and currently of RVIVR – who plays and sings so excitedly, it’s like he won a competition to play onstage with his favourite band. Those who initially rushed to get a refund have truly missed out on a consistently entertaining mixed bill.
