Few bands have experienced the sheer propulsion into popularity that five-piece Little Red have over the past two years. Having swiftly conquered Melbourne with a string of shows and festival appearances, as well as the release of their debut LP Listen To Little Red, the band have decided to strut their stuff in London – as well they should. Fortunately, however, they would not leave without first treating fans to a farewell gig at the Corner.
The venue experienced an unusually poor turn-out initially, which saw Canvas Kites play to a mere handful of early, eager punters. It was their first show in Melbourne, and they succeeded in crafting a warm, summery vibe, as if to channel the balmy day that preceded their appearance. The clean-cut trio’s confidence seemed to build with numbers, as they made a point to display their versatility : Shining Remark set a dreamy holiday scene, whilst Lover’s Day painted grittier, darker tones. Persistent kick-pedal troubles became a nuisance, and the band will – pardon the pun – be kicking themselves to think that such a setback may have marred their debut in our great city. All was to be forgiven though as the band saw their way to rise above technical difficulties to put on a great set, with the jangly guitar-pop of Wayside a memorable highlight.
The Box Rockets certainly drew their fair share of supporters, and with a frenetic bass line courtesy of Stuart West, things got off to a flyer. Front man Luke Sabbadini owned the stage, a skilled guitarist and vocalist giving everything to his performance. Pleasingly, he’s only the icing on what turns out to be a most delicious cake. The Box Rockets were awesomely unified the entire evening, laying down precise, truly melodic grooves of all forms, proving successful in shifting more than one pair of shoes on the Corner dance floor. Their cohesion is impressive given the band only formed last year, taking cues from a Wiki Answers article as to ‘How to form a rock band’. Well, whatever guidance they gleamed from their research, things have worked out for the best. Stay was the song to leave an impression, even if it contains a demanding falsetto, which at times seemed too much for Sabbadini’s flexible voice. Those who like their rock with a little bit more of an edge should probably look elsewhere, but for the rest who enjoy a bit of a pop-laden twist and shout, The Box Rockets have you covered.
The Vasco Era, within seconds, just about shattered everybody’s eardrums into nothingness. That ‘edge’ I was talking about? These three locals have it and make no apologies for making a bit of noise. Sid O’Neil unleashes almost demonic screams, straining his vocal chords to the extreme, like the last drops of water wrung from a dishcloth. Their cover of The Beatles’ Why Don’t We Do It In The Road was perhaps a bit drawn out and overblown, but the epic performance more than appreciated by the entire venue. It wasn’t all crunching guitars and crashing cymbals: The Vasco Era was sure to instill a bit of variety in their set. Whilst I’m usually one to champion such a move, the band’s quieter moments were simply too drastic a departure from their usual and the reputation they’ve built. The sudden shift is the equivalent of stepping out of a Ferrari and getting into a buggy. Unsurprisingly, a fair few punters flocked to the bar as a result. The seductive Honey Bee saw a welcomed return to form, and it soon became clear that The Vasco Era are most loved and at their best when they indulge in their brand of manic, raw enthusiasm. Its a great sight to see them get carried away with their own intensity.
Arriving to enormous applause, Little Red began to play both their latest and greatest tracks. Referring to themselves as ‘doo-wop punk’, the band maintain a constant state of energy. They’ve learned a lesson or two from the 50s and 60s, and combine brilliantly with simple hooks and four-part harmonies to emulate the retro sound as their own. New song A Place Called Love saw the inclusion of a two-piece brass section – Jack Howard and Michael Waters of Hunters And Collectors – that appeared throughout the set and added a welcome new dimension to Little Red’s repertoire. It was the cameo of saxophonist Wilbur Wilde, however, that stole the show, the delightfully bolstered and spirited Jackie Cooper sent the Corner into a frenzy.
Little Red exude not only great confidence, but also seem to find a real joy in performing. Drummer Taka Honda spent much of the night as a bobble-headed smile, whilst Dominic Byrne ensured a friendly dialogue was kept with the audience between songs. Coca Cola was a crowd favorite that had everyone bopping and singing along – behavior that’s become a staple of Little Red’s live shows – and the song soon became a party in itself. In the end, that’s where Little Red succeed: just about everything they do is so damn simple and infectious, and you can’t help but feel good when they’re doing their thing.
This night had a little something for everyone, and what’s more, Little Red seem poised to create substantial buzz in London. The next time they’re back here is for Falls. My one and only advice would be to fit them into your festival schedule.
to listen to their music now on 
