The turning tides of popular and rock music are increasingly flowing as one. And as Thursday night at The Bakery demonstrated the surge of electro expressionism has caught many up in its highly synthed sensations.
A diverse mix of audience members from the electro jocks to indie kids came together on this night for a party, Van She Party! Welcoming vibes from the decks greeted the audience on arrival as homage to electro over the decades from the 70s through to more recent club hits being a reminder that this genre has come a long way in a short time.
Enthusiastically taking to the role of support act, Perth’s The Dirty Secrets launched into their set like a punch to the ear drum. Lacerating synthesiser and guitars were supported by the band’s new drummer (introduction lacking name) who held pace and kept a wave of rhythm washing over curly moped front man Jarrah McCleary and his equally shaggy counterpart Mike Sanders on guitar.
Touted as one of Perth’s next acts to break it The Dirty Secrets brought an electro infused rock to the stage with tracks Devil’s Inside and Five Feet of Snow sparking emotions that were leeringly short of a minor frenzy.
The Dirty Secrets’ performance maintained the tight and powerful sound recorded on their self titled LP release of this year. However, despite an energy packed performance, The Dirty Secrets lacked more subtle tracks in their set listing that could develop their appeal and build on opportunities presented on their ambitious touring schedule.
After an interval of more spun electro pop a bizarre choice for final track had Cindy Lauper’s Time After Time fading out into Van She’s arrival on stage. A perplexed audience seemed to take a few seconds to readjust and refocus their attention to the stage and the night’s headliners.
Performing tracks from their anticipated debut album V, Van She was eager to please, possibly too eager. Their opening tracks seemed to lack a well honed feel despite their frequent touring with each member of the band keeping their own time and rock moves and poses thrown in sporadically adding to a loss of lyrics. It wasn’t until half-way through the set with Strangers that Van She brought the party.
As though a switch had been kicked the band picked up and began to respond to the crowd driving the bass into the chests of the dancing and wildly waving throng. A punter even climbed the central pole aided by human foot holds to get a better look. Finishing the set with the hugely popular Kelly the band and crowd united in chorus.
With a delayed start to the set of Van She Tech, it gave time to ponder why, in the current hype and hunger for electronic/pop/rock music Van She has not hit the market with a bigger impact. For all the musings, the release of V on August 9 will be a major step forward for the band and has the potential to be a memorable party.
