The Oxford Art Factory is a surprising venue in the sea of seedy clubs that house the Sydney music scene. Surrounded by installation art, Kiss like skeleton wall paintings and red lights in the bathrooms that make you feel as though you’re in a high class brothel, the venue boasts an unexpectedly chilled atmosphere. And most impressively, the sound was good, with the acoustics of the room much better than anticipated.
Opening with the pop styling of Wons Phreely, who fits somewhere near Ben Kweller meets Red Riders listening to a Beck album, the ‘Two Sides’ tour brought a little light to the city’s Friday night.
Cloud Control took the stage to a rapidly filling room. The semi- acoustic tones and alternating vocals of the Blue Mountains band made for a set that was both whimsical and passionate. You can’t help but feel like there is influence from other Sydney indie bands like Dappled Cities Fly if they beefed up their songs and learned to dance. Cloud Control’s set seemed to switch from blues and folk to rock, everything the audience could have wanted in a support act. Before you close the book on Cloud Control, definitely check them out live. They are a band that is going to be known for far more than just Vintage Books soon.
Youth Group have been light on the live scene while recording their fourth album The Night is Ours. And with Singer Toby Martin looking dishevelled, un-kept like he has just walked out of Thunder Alley, it’s darn good to see them back. Despite their performance absence of late, Youth Group played an absolute rip-snorter of a set.
Leaving few surprises for punters when they have their first spin of The Night Is Ours on June 23rd, Youth Group played a set that heavily featured new material. What the night suggested is that we can look forward to an album that sounds like classic Youth Group, with an up-beat twist. Not one to stray too far from previous form, from the looks (and sounds) of things, the five-piece have taken some steps in a more hook-driven direction.
The most noticeable difference in the Sydney band was the addition of the fifth member. Adding a keyboard to the equation has beefed up the songs in a manner that was unexpected and has breathed new life into classics like Shadow Land and Skeleton Jar. The keys seem to feature heavily in the new tunes also, and the band seems a more cohesive whole because of them.
First single off the new album, and the namesake of the tour, Two Sides was well received by the audience, who by this stage filled all available space on the floor. After five straight new tracks, Youth Group pulled out a few classics including Baby Body, Daisy Chains and Start Today Tomorrow as well as a cover of The Triffids’ Beautiful Waste, all well received by the crowd. Free from Forever Young, the set pandered to the eager fans in attendance, and they appreciated the band even more for it.
Youth Group are one of the best Australian bands live. They continue to impress with each show and new song. From the preview of Friday night, they’re going to keep on doing exactly that for records to come.
