Arts Martial @ Fly By Night,Perth (13/02/10)

Tue 16th Feb, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Black Clouds Gold Linings was more than just a charity fundraiser. It was a celebration that the Fly By Night is now bearable in summer, as their request to install fans in the heritage listed building has finally been granted. The comfortable, swarming of cool air wasn’t the only thing keeping armpits happy. The intimate cabaret-bar setting of little round tables semi-circling towards a dimly lit stage gave fans, friends and supporters the option of resting their glutes and drinks or standing up in the vast expanse of the hollow, glowing shed.

A steady crowd gathered to watch an explosively diverse line-up of West Australian music in support of Youth Focus, a non-profit based organisation working with young people who show early signs associated with suicide, depression and self-harm.

A brand new initiative organised by Perth musician, Sam Carmody, Black Clouds Gold Linings saw the energetically entertaining Arts Martial deliver a fiery, sharp set but not before alternative-folk singer Davey Craddock wooed the relaxed crowd, Sam Carmody and A Town Called Panic enticed all with unusual harmonies and then Art in Algebra brought a fresh, playful sound to the pleasantly peaceful atmosphere.

Davey Craddock was in fine form, quietly teasing the audience with his mellow and restful bluesy ballads. His buoyant and occasionally lively, fast-paced vocals made for an unpredictable set that warmed up the small, sprightly crowd. His acoustic, catchy and almost poppy folk tunes can be compared to the likes of Ben Kweller and Brett Dennen but without the indie, hip-flexing, knee jerking tag. But it was the multi-talented musician’s combination of the harmonica and acoustic guitar that would have enticed any folk music fan.

Sam Carmody and A Town Called Panic took to the romantically-lit stage, offering a delightfully captivating set. Perhaps it was the change in pace and varying vocal harmonies that saw the audience re-gain energy and interest after the state of tranquillity induced by Craddock’s performance. The upbeat, acoustic melodies provided a contrast to some of the lyrics voiced throughout the intriguingly volatile and uplifting performance. Carmody was at ease and confident on stage and the growing, happy crowd drank and applauded generously during his engaging performance which proved, like his idea behind Black Clouds Gold Linings, that music can really uplift and enliven the spirit.

When Art in Algebra hit the stage, a raw, refreshing and distinctively different sound could be heard bouncing off the vintage music wallpaper that acts as a shrine above the long, spacious bar. It was a sound that even frontman, Ross Patrick, admitted was a little unusual, given the absence of the band’s keyboardist.

Patrick’s angular, and occasionally sporadic, movements about the stage made for a vivacious introduction to a relatively short and entertaining set.

Patrick wasn’t the only one feeling comfortable in his own shoes, there were already two gentlemen attempting the Running Man much to the amusement of onlooking bar staff. The audience applauded solidly when Patrick asked the crowd to show their appreciation for the band’s bass player who had learnt seven songs in two weeks. This was quickly followed by the clicking and rough tapping of a red tambourine as Patrick gently stole the mic from its stand and bopped around the stage to the tight melody introducing Who Knows What You Need.

Members of the well-behaved crowd were even tapping their feet by the time the catchy electric guitar riffs reverberated into the comfortably spacious cavern during the indie-rock tune Oh All This Mess. The chaotically attractive drum solo concluding the energetic Small World, the joint vocals and stand-out electric guitar solos in Water Still Hispanic were only teasers. It was the unrestrained and ecstatic vocals in the old tune Snow Snow Snow and the jiving, fast-paced and energetic performance in Song 1 that had all eyes on stage and concluded Art in Algebra’s fun, familiar and yet strangely incomparable set.

Arts Martial began with a martial-type electronic voice recording repeating the four-piece band’s name. The reason this band were the Next Big Thing winners of 2009 was evident from the beginning. They delivered an energetic and refined performance that cut the bullshit and demanded the attention of everyone, even commanding impulsive dancing and jumping from a small, enthusiastic group towards the front of the stage.

Problem Child was rough, rebellious, unrestrained and evocative as indicated in its title. The harsh, captivating and varied vocals of front-man, Jarrod Ross, in Dreams matched the exciting and quick changing rocky rhythms that kept the dancing kids hooked. The epileptic light changes during the violent drum solo and almost repetitive soft war-cry, in which Ross was joined by the band’s bass player and guitarist to utter the words “Oh, oh, sweetheart,” concluded the loud, tight tune.

Ross commented, “The night is quiet. We’ve never played a candle-lit dinner before so we’ll just try and run with it,” seemed fitting for the slower track Why Stay Here. The unpredictable sounds of the keyboard combined with the calm but rapid vocals and echoes made for an interesting different tune compared to the rest of their set.

Brew Like Bitter and Picture offered epic electric riffs and fresh, new and exciting lyrics which were catchy, upbeat and enough to make a few more fans join the dancing party of happiness up the front. Even the boys from Art in Algebra were shaking out some moves. Vibrant tune, The Only Ones and more familiar, Supernational saw beer and bubbles of champagne spill onto the infinite dance floor of rock as fans fired up. Slower-paced tune, Operate didn’t hold back when it came to the chorus and the excruciatingly energetic drum solo that introduced the final song for the set; Sugar proved quite subtle compared to the wild deliverance that ensued.

Arts Martial put on a spectacularly entertaining live show. Their explosively raw but refined catchy pop- rock tunes have already attracted a great deal of attention and it won’t be long until everyone is hooked.

Black Clouds Gold Linings was a night of exciting, upcoming West Australian music. The concept behind the evening of entertainment was great and given that it’s the first of its kind, Carmody deserves to be congratulated. The making of an annual event would be greatly supported.