Springtones @ Roxanne Parlour,Melbourne (26/09/09)

Mon 28th Sep, 2009 in Gig Reviews

I got to Springtones early. The line up was too good not to. Unfortunately, not quite early enough to catch all of Woollen Kits. I got in about half the set though, and seriously, these guys are the best go and see them! I saw them a while ago at the Old Bar and the things good sound and practice will do for a band. They’re a three piece, two guitars, no bass. They’ve got that wall of sound kind of punk element but at the same time it’s a bit shoegazey or something, and anyone who can and will write an entire song about their cat clearly has a grip on what is important in this world.

Next on my to see list was Rat vs. Possum, who I was psyched about because I’d been hearing so fucking much about them. The idea of three or four different people playing drums at the same time appeals to my tribal side. But frankly, I was a little disappointed. I’d assumed they would be really overwhelming and dense so it’s probably not too fair to criticise them based on what I’d wanted out of them. But I really didn’t dig the clichéd lyrics like – œI think I love you but it might be the drugs’. Roxanne really wasn’t the best venue for them either, they’d be great outside at Meredith or something.

Anyway, Springtones was already shaping up to be another predictably solid night of tight bands and hip sounds. Neither Super Wild Horses or Songs really turned me on, though Songs were notable for their distinct veer from the uniform look of the other bands.

Aleks and the Ramps are heaps of fun, lots of colour and danceable songs. We had a bit of a jump around before heading to see Love of Diagrams. Me and most of my friends loved their first album so we were eager to see what’s been going on with the band. Their new songs are a bit more bland, but they could be growers given time.

After getting taste for the new stuff we headed to see Bachelorette – the angriest looking performer I’ve ever seen. I guess she was just concentrating because she did have a whole lot of complicated electric equipment stuff in front of her, which produced a sound in the vein of the theme from an eighties kids show. Bachelorette is one of those performers I think has some really good songs but I wouldn’t really listen to them. It sounds too inorganic for music that is not dancing music, love songs for androids.

Vivien Girls took to the stage next. Surprisingly not too many people came into see them and the room was nowhere near as packed as Love of Diagrams. They’re really cool, three girls from New York playing pretty punk songs. I love their latest album and though they were really tight listening to album is probably just as good as seeing them live. Or maybe I was just getting sleepy by this point. I could hardly stand up despite The Daicos sounding amazing! Really really high energy grungy kind of rock and roll, especially when contrasted with the passive vibe of the Vivian Girls.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE FESTIVAL HERE