Babyfreeze, Go GenreEverything, Dan Adey @ Bar 32,Canberra, (09/10/08)

Sun 12th Oct, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Past the people filled couches and down the narrow bar, a last minute ring in, Dan Adey opened another Gangbusters event for a small but attentive audience. Listening to Dan strumming his electric guitar and singing with passion to his blend of melancholic and at times dark, gentle indie rock tracks, it was easy to lie back in your chair and sink into oblivion. With his windswept hair, cardigan and black rimmed specs, Dan sung about how its “so hard to be just about everything” and a track about fallen heroes; heavy and easy to relate to, this show was a great start to what appeared at first to be a quiet and reflective evening. In fact the bands to come were in stark contrast.

Like a slap in the face we were awakened and some had to leave as it was all too much, probably scarred by the lack of fashion sense from Zach, Go Genre Everything’s guitarist and co-lead vocalist, wearing a bright red Hawaiian shirt coupled with red Hawaiian board shorts. Confused? Well their sound is almost just as confusing and the name says it all as every genre makes an appearance, including shoe-gazing, rock, experimental, rockabilly and more. Loaded with noise, alarming screeches and comedic lyrics, these guys are Architecture In Helsinki shrunk down to two talented multitaskers. Take Jen – keyboardist/vocalist/drummer extraordinaire, who played keys and drums one handed while sharing lead vocals with a little help from her headset mic. Go Genre Everything mixed up an awesome cocktail of entertainingly hilarious toe tapping, thigh slapping tracks, putting a smile on all our faces and making us want to jump around and dance if we weren’t so damn shy.

Just when we thought the wackiness was over, Babyfreeze and Handsome Luke hit the floor with a frightfully sexual, sensual and slightly S&M house/dance routine. It was comedic and enlightening. Reminding us that these days being “gay is normal and being straight is strange”. Like Go Genre Everything, but unlike the hideously painful Rainbow Rabbits (if you haven’t heard of these morons then lets hope you never do), these guys pull off a comedy music routine well. Handsome Luke sported a lovely pink wrestling mask while being mainly in charge of the cheesy dance backing tracks and occasionally rocking out on guitar. He also shared lead vocals with Babyfreeze, who looked pretty normal but sounded like a vocalist from !!! (Chk Chk Chk) on heat.

As the evening drew closer to an end, Handsome Luke was a polite host and invited several boys to dance with the band for the remainder of the evening. Babyfreeze added to the cheese, waltzing up and down the dance area as he jazzed it up with the saxophone. The boys closed the evening with a freaky track where they both alternated the lyrics “Keep going!”...”No it hurts”... “Keep going”... “Don’t make me cry”. It was scary and strange, reminding us all why Gangbusters is so unique.