The Temper Trap @ Oxford ArtFactory, Sydney (25/09/08)

Mon 29th Sep, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Downstairs at the Oxford Art Factory on a Thursday night, away from the buzz of Oxford Street, The Temper Trap pulled off an ambitious show.

The night began with Songs, a band that I had never heard of before. However, they really surprised me with their Flaming Lips-esque tunes, propelled by a drummer who was full of spark. For a relatively young-looking band, there’s plenty of potential ahead of them. The Flying Foxes followed, but their performance was a little disappointing. There was little stagecraft (despite a bass player who looked the part in a suit and bow-tie combo), but the sound was muddled and the lyrics often unintelligible.

But the night was all about The Temper Trap. There is just so much in their indie power-pop songs – from the beautiful harmonies and the falsetto singing, through to the jangly guitars and the rolling drum beats. It’s hard to pinpoint their sound. The songs are steeped in a wall-of-sound tradition, with a guitar section reminiscent of early U2. Even when they were trying for something big they couldn’t quite pull of, you appreciated them trying.

I came into the night only really knowing Sweet Disposition, and while the whole set-list fired, that one song was the winner of the night. There was something almost cathartic about this number, too, and the enjoyment on the faces of the band made it that much better for the crowd.

At times The Temper Trap appeared a little over-ambitious, but you can’t deny the results were good. Those who were there put behind their weekday blues and revelled in a band that are going to be big sooner rather than later.