Tomas Ford, InappropriateTough Guy Behaviour, ChromaKey Deathbots, Gangbusters @BAR 32 (02/10/08)

Sun 5th Oct, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Perth’s punk electro act Tomas Ford is on his Accidental East Coast Tour. Only three months past his last Canberra show, he just had to return and conquer to play yet another amazing show as a part of Gangbusters at BAR 32.

Kicking off last Thursday night’s kookiness were supports, Inappropriate Tough Guy Behaviour and Chroma Key Deathbots. Throughout their sets the bar did that thing where it goes from full to empty. And by the time Tomas came on to play, the bar was nearly empty again.

But that is when The Tomas Ford Effect occurred, titled thus because it happened last time too. The T.F.E is when people start slipping through the cracks and appear out of no where. It is unexplainable, but it just happens!

There were many punters who seemed unfamiliar with Ford’s work. Many came in asking those – ‘what/who the hell is this, seriously?’ For some, a very confusing yet exhilarating time. Performing, Ford is like a psycho-babble of charismatic charm, you just can’t keep your eyes off him.

Strangers came to meet him as just a punk rock electro artist. Then he’s pulling out the costumes like this is a one man cabaret. Then he is taking his clothes off like a stripper who wants to get it on. Then he is singing ABBA and Radiohead like he is blind drunk at the karaoke. Whatever he did got bar goers dancing, shaking, euphoric.

But… if you weren’t ‘touched’ by Ford’s messy music (as in, didn’t like it) there is a big chance that you were at least touched – literally. Ford went on to touch, grope, and grab every male and female in the bar. Interestingly enough it was the male audience who seemed to love the attention from Tomas the most.

By the end of the night many seemed in awe enough to purchase a burnt CD, which which included songs from throughout the night like Five Times, Big Night Out In The Rockhampton, Loud Speeka, Long Speeka. Other tracks on the CD, (which Ford didn’t play) include an interesting mix of Muscles’ Sweaty, and the angry Letters of Complaint and many more which will trigger something in your mind.

Those who proved to be the biggest fanatics were the ones who bought the sticker which read ‘Tomas Ford Fucking Owns You’. Watch out you may see them on ACT cars driving in front of you in the future! (eek!)