The Orange City Sings, Fushia@ The Zoo (04/02/2010)

Sun 7th Feb, 2010 in Gig Reviews

As The Zoo starts to swell it’s evident there is a certain buzz sweeping the crowd which can only be attributed to the fact that tonight is a dual EP launch; an exciting time to see any band as they are usually well rehearsed from recording and will always deliver an enthusiastic performance.

As the first chord rings out and the opening song starts to take shape it is obvious that Fushia have a maturity in their song writing well beyond their years. The vocalist is aware of his limits and sings within his ability, the result an endearing and modest voice that suits the music well. Calling for a guest vocalist/guitarist for the second song, Fushia strive for Radiohead in their younger years, achieving a similar feel without setting off any alarm bells. The atmosphere on stage lifts in intensity from here. Trance derived synth sounds and more rhythmically driven chorus’ distance the rest of their songs from the pensive openers, only occasionally displaying the same verve. As the band become more comfortable on stage the more this gig starts to resemble a private show for their friends rather than an EP launch, including a pseudo gangsta skit and culminating in a kitschy sing along arm in arm. Having had some success already through Triple J’s unearthed I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of this young band in the near future.

In what is one of the quickest change overs this reviewer has ever seen, lead guitarist and front man Zac walks on stage and casts a lure into the crowd using trails of delay as bait. The rhythm section, drummer Sammy and bassist Jon, join him soon after and The Orange City Sings launch into their set; heavy grooves and dramatic changes in dynamics along with a more polished sound separate the band from the current indie rock trend. The opening three songs, Plagues, You Could Be Yourself and Mentock (one can only hope this is a reference to Harvey) illustrate this perfectly, using more space in their structure and a natural ebb and flow that maintains a high level of energy.

Newly written songs, Calm Down and Dimensions follow a plodding bass interlude that ends rather abruptly. With consistent dynamics and more traditional arrangements, these two offer more instant gratification rather than leading you down a winding trail and create a nice contrast against the more progressive material. The vocal delivery, shared by all three members, is notably shaky in these tracks when compared to the solid performance of songs that feature on their debut EP. Choosing to stick with more familiar material in the tail end of their set, The Orange City Sings close on a high note. The set’s closing song and the title track off the EP, Skeletons, is arguably the highlight of the night, exploding with a solid groove and a relentless energy that doesn’t let you catch a breath until the expansive bridge. The crowd chants the main lyric as the intensity builds until they break into one final chorus much to the delight of all involved. The Orange City Sings have set themselves apart from their indie rock peers whilst still having an appeal within the genre.