Tame Impala @ Oxford ArtFactory, Sydney (26/02/09)

Mon 2nd Mar, 2009 in Gig Reviews

In the intimate, sold-out confines of Oxford Art Factory, Tame Impala had a crowd of punters eager to hear if the band would live up to their hype. A carefully planned set-list saw the long haired, casually dressed stoner rock boys from Perth open with fairly tame (no pun intended) opener.

After some experimental jamming, kazoo playing and new material, the show really began as the boys belted out their psychedelic cover of Remember Me. The cover gave an honest impression of the band as genuine musicians – with mature vocals and a sound reflecting a strong Doors influence. The band fed off the crowd’s response, giving it their all as the smell of weed began to take over the venue.

The final songs played ( Half Full Glass of Wine and Skeleton Tiger ), pleased all the scenesters who otherwise seemed a bit confused with the musical mash of sounds present in the majority of their set. Whilst the boys had a causal approach to the gig – looking like they’d just got out of bed – for an up and coming band, Tame Impala proved that their signing to the Modular label was no accident and well deserved.