Reviewed on Friday November 21
Two of Sydney’s best indie bands launched their second albums at Goodgod Small Club in front of a healthy-sized crowd on Friday – proof of a thriving local scene for those looking to find it.
After Point Being opened, Bearhug were up, officially launching the excellent So Gone. They present the material on the fuzztastic new album in slightly altered form live – it’s not as harsh to a live audience, making it more accessible. Those who have heard the album know it makes sense, as it would be almost impossible to make the songs even noisier.
Bearhug made their setlist up as they went because of amp difficulties, which hurt any chances of momentum. But the set didn’t suffer too much; there are so many quality layers of guitar in the new songs that even if you strip some of them away the songs sound incredibly strong all the same (see ‘Habit Wave’). And with the guitar pared back, you can hear just how catchy the melodies are, something that often gets lost in the shuffle when talking indie rock.
While Bearhug tone down the noise when playing live, Step-Panther amped everything up, turning their slacker tunes into heavy psychedelia. As with most trios, the rhythm guitar heard in the studio isn’t a luxury they have live, which made singer/guitarist Steve Bourke’s inspired guitar solos sound all the more woozy on their lonesome.
Focusing on their charming album Strange But Nice, Step-Penther’s songs in a live setting really highlight their own weirdness; an odd chord here, an out-of-left-field tempo change there, and the jam section shoved into the middle of ‘Namor’. If these guys aren’t fans of Ween I’d be very surprised. While there are some lacking elements in the vocals, the sheer power behind the guitar and especially the technical prowess of drummer Daniel Radburn more than make up for it.
Goodgod on Friday was a haven for music fans hooked on ’90s-style indie guitar. Do yourself a favour and see Bearhug and Step-Panther live when you have a chance. They deserve your time and money.
