Young and Restless, Fire!Santa Rosa, Fire!, Skeletons @Enigma Bar, Adelaide(05/09/07)

Tue 9th Oct, 2007 in Gig Reviews

Since I last saw Canberra’s Young and Restless three months ago their popularity seems to have doubled. This is largely due to the release of their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, recorded by Shihad ’s Tom Larkin. Their memorable Police! Police! music video on high rotations on Rage has also helped.

This popularity is due in part to the broadness of their fan base, ranging from lovers of indie to hardcore punk. The support slots they have received, from Brazilan electro rockers Cansei De Ser Sexy to the San Francisco noise punks Erase Errata, reflect this versatility.

The night started off with local band Skeletons. Before they started to play the first thing I noticed was the fact that the stage was filled with every conceivable form of instrument. This included two drum sets one of which was fitted out with bongos and cowbell as well as a synthesizer and saxophone. They had an intensely distinct sound. It reminded me of experimental punk bands like This Heat or A Certain Ratio. The inclusion of the saxophone gave them an avant garde jazz feel similar to Bitches Brew era Miles Davis. The two drummers created an almost tribal beat which got the crowd moving, no easy feat for the first band playing on the night.

Next up was local indie darlings Fire! Santa Rosa,Fire! They continue to impress me every time I see them, which is quite frequently. They played one of their tightest sets, even though two of their members had just played in Skeletons and must have been exhausted. They got the crowd dancing to their irresistible synthpop grooves.

Anticipation grew as Young and Restless took the stage and immediately the crowd went wild. Singer Karina Utomo’s stage presence was riveting. All eyes were on her as she contorted, screeched and stage dived through the performance, feeding off the crowd’s energy, which was electric to say the least. However, the rest of the band shouldn’t be overlooked, from the throbbing drums, growling bass and angular guitar. Only having one album to their name there wasn’t much of a chance of not hearing your favourite song. Highlights included Kapow!, Police! Police!, Satan and Dirty Kicks. Altogether one of the best performances I have ever seen at Enigma.