WAYS couldn’t have asked for a better day to showcase local talent The Fecks, Bass Camp, The Jezabels, Heroes for Hire and headliners Kid Confucius.
Youngsters The Fecks opened with an ‘80s borrowed look and early Cure inspired sound aka Boy’s Don’t Cry. Following their set, it was hard for this reviewer to resist the call of the near perfect weather conditions, heading to the big aqua lagoon for a quick dip between sets. I returned to see DJ Patrik & Polaroid Girl rip it up before Bass Camp hit the stage.
With influences including Phoenix, Battles and Radiohead, the funk infused three-piece Bass Camp entertained with a set of erratic vocals infused with heavy bass lines. A hard band to pin down, the stop-start bridge and chorus of their songs showed the Battles influences shining through – closing with a song about the fear an ibis can conjure.
Meanwhile a larger crowd started to gather, with meandering locals joining the hillside crowd. Most stripped down to swim-wear to take in the sun and the Jezabels. Garnering a local following, the Jezabels once again showed off their finesse as an emerging young band with vocal prowess and solid musicianship behind them. Totally quirky but cool.
Mixing it up on the grass was a bunch of fluoro and tartan clad ‘youths’ awaiting punk band Heroes for Hire. Reminiscent of my own teenage years, there isn’t much better than a free music festival with a punk band that you’re legally allowed to be at. True to their name, Heroes for Hire provided an excuse for the kids to rip it up front of stage, creating an unexpected mosh-pit. They connected with the purpose of the day better than anyone else.
When Kid Confucius hit the stage at around 4pm, the crowd was winding down and a more mature set of folks appeared on the green. Kid Confucius impressed with stellar vocals. I was blown away by Rob Hezkial’s vocal range, and the unity of the seven-piece. They rocked out Stevie Wonder-style, with Rob and Andrew Guirguise sharing leads perfectly. The crowd loved their blend of big band meets soulful funk.
The day was really just cute. The WAYS MCs told (bad) jokes in-between sets and generally trying to hype up the crowd (they may have been expecting a younger turn out). The organisers obviously put a lot of effort into the event, and it was nice to see the local support within the community. The stag hanging mid-air, with the bands literally falling into a postcard of Bondi, blew me away. A nice way to spend a chilled-out Saturday.
