Photo by Rachael Barrett
Jesse Davidson/Papa Vs Pretty
The Astor
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Beginning with an impromptu jam, albeit a quick sound check for the band, South Australian youngster Jesse Davidson moved quickly to set a definitive standard of quality music for the evening. Davidson’s brand of contemporary indie delved into a ranging scape of musical texture, interlacing elements of pop, melancholic rock, tradition R&B and jazzy overtones, ensuring each track stood well individually and as a collective set. One of the highlights of Davidson’s set was his cooling interpretation of James Blake’s Falling From My Dreams, with the drummer’s change from sticks to trumpet. Jesse’s song writing and performance tonight unveiled him to be a young talent with a maturing musical sensibility.
Tonight marked Papa Vs Pretty’s first return to Perth since their national White Deer Park album launch tour in February. Singer and guitarist Tom Rowle led Papa Vs Pretty to quickly earn the house’s undivided attention from the onset. There was a good diversity in Papa Vs Pretty repertoire tonight, from guitar laden numbers that meld into melodic pop inspired songs like To Do and Million Different Ways. My Life Is Yours proved to be the band’s opus for the evening; Rowle’s tongue in cheek ode to the poor snare drum that suffered a technical malfunction earlier. Through Liang’s piano work, the band worked symbiotically to the building crescendos.
Ball Park Music were focussed on delivering an eclectic mix of their favourite material and bringing their newest music into the live fold. The Brisbane indie pop quintet were not short of musical offerings for the amassed crowd who had eagerly awaited their return to the west coast. Ball Park Music did not put a foot wrong in tonight’s standout performance. Coming Down, Surrender and All I Want Is You proved to be the faithfuls’ sing-along favourites. Struggle Street was a psychedelic inspired organ number that sat favourably well with the audience. She Only Loves Me When I’m There was atmospheric in styling, although a little too akin to Radiohead’s conquests at times. Fence Sitter was one of the band’s hardest hitting rock numbers which had the audience moshing; a standout track of the set. Ending with Bohemian Rhapsody as an encore, on paper at least, would make any Queen diehard cry shenanigans. To BPM’s credit, they made the song work well in their style and favour and it was embraced by the audience.
The showcase of contemporary Australian indie material on offer tonight was nothing short of quality. From the band’s performances tonight, there are enough reasons to say each are deserving of their successes thus far and need to be kept in any indie/pop fan’s line of sight.
ANTHONY LIONETTI
