Launching just their fourth album from a ten year career Rocket Science pulled a decent, yet slightly disappointing crowd to the Corner. While the crowd did build to a respectable swell for Rocket Science, there were few punters who’d made the effort to catch the openers, which is a pity as both The Shake Up and Tame Impala had plenty to offer the early and curious.
Were this 2003 The Shake Up would be lumped in with Jet as rock revivalists with their straight up rock sound. While most punters in the small crowd lurked up the back, close to the bar, the presence of the drunken fools/mates-of-the-band/official-Shake-Up-dancers provided an entertaining complement to the band’s lively rock and roll. While one a chorus that declared ‘everybody loves it/ everybody thinks it’s good’ may have over stated their appeal, but The Shake Up deliver a strong and thoroughly enjoyable set.
Recently signed to the Modular hype machine, Tame Impala may be faced with the pressure to become the new Wolfmother, but the fresh faced trio looked to absolutely unfazed. Barefoot and effortlessly casual on stage, the boys brief set list of psych-rock filled their allotted forty minutes with head nodding 60s psych inspired jams that offered more than a faint whiff of the jazz cigarette. Kevin Parker‘s reverb drenched vocals and the tightly locked grooves provided by the rhythm section of drummer Jay Watson and bassist Dominic Simper provide more than enough evidence that Tame Impala will prove themselves worthy of the inevitable chorus of Modular PR guff. Their detractors will moan about their retro Cream influenced sound but, sharing a kinship with Swedish rockers Dungen, Tame Impala offer a fresh and exciting take on the sound. While their own tracks impress, it’s the cover of Blue Boy’s 1997 club cut Remember Me that proves to be the unlikely highlight of their set.
As the curtain opened on Rocket Science they launched into an instrumental freak-out without fuss or introduction. A well oiled unit, Rocket Science’s live appeal has always been the manic strut of their lead man(iac) Roman Tucker. With his jacket sleeves rolled up he quickly works up a drenching sweat as he lurched about the battered keys of his organ.
They blasted through the posturing Six Foot 4 before turning his attention to the Theremin with the glee. The crowd reaction was noticeably less vocal as the band work through material from the latest record and 2004s Eternal Holiday, but when the band kick out older cuts the front rows lifted enough for Tucker to launch himself into the crowd. With Burn In Hell and Being Followed they’re at their sweaty, rocking best, but with an undersized crowd and a set of new material this Rocket Science show fell short of their previous highs.
