Dappled Cities, John SteelSingers, Otouto @ The Princeof Wales, Melbourne(12/06/2010)

Wed 16th Jun, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Dappled Cities at the Prince of Wales band room in St Kilda: the best way to stay warm on a winter night in Melbourne. Although the Sydney boys did not sell out the Prince of Wales, whatever room that was not taken up by fans was filled with the band’s full bodied blend of Bowie-inspired alternative pop.

Doors opened at 8:30 and a crowd trickled in at 9:30 in time for the first of two supports for the night, Otouto. A tough slot to fill, yet the shy Melbourne trio shuffled out onto the stage and captured their crowd from the very beginning. The trio’s set was an excellent display of alternative hip-hop with complex beats and female harmonies similar to The Dirty Projectors. The support slot was short but it was clear to see why Otouto are the band to look out for at the moment after their debut LP Pip received critical acclaim following its release earlier this year.

The John Steel Singers took to the stage second in a more up-tempo fashion. The pop-rock six piece maintained a high energy throughout their set, almost stealing the show from Dappled Cities. After coming to the public’s attention through Triple J, the Brisbane band have slowly risen through the independent Australian music scene. Those who came into the Prince of Wales not knowing much about The John Steel Singers, certainly would have left eager to hear more from the band. The band’s sound, while simple, is infectious and could even be suited to a larger venue. After completing their tour with Dappled Cities, they will take their rightful place amongst many other acclaimed artists at the Splendour In The Grass Festival later next month.

On to the main event; Sydney alternative pop darlings Dappled Cities. You know you are doing well as a band when you shout “you guys just became the best city ever,” and the crowd still believes you. The quintet took to the stage with their stands and microphones strewn with fake vines and forest, wiser than ever before. Dappled Cities have remained quietly successful for a number of years now, touring Australia and abroad to dedicated crowds. They have worked their way up from a small stage appearance at Big Day Out in 2008 to a main stage spot at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, clad in gold spandex at the start of 2010. Those outfits did not make an appearance at the Prince of Wales, however the set was not without spectacle.

A brave move from the band, they opened the set with new material but the trademark falsettos were there, somewhat comforting to the crowd. The set showcased tunes from Dappled Cities’ most recent two albums Zounds and Granddance and the odd new song carefully placed amongst the more well known tracks. Also notable on the night was the band’s exceptional light show. They Sydney boys were a giant hamster ball and two giant hands short of upstaging The Flaming Lips. The entrancing combination of smoke, multi-coloured strobe lights and lasers seemed to go forever and got to the point where it was almost possible to forget that there was a band playing.

All in all, a brilliant set from Dappled Cities, highlighting that they haven’t forgotten their roots and that their future is just as promising. Best of luck to the band on the rest of their tour, which comes to a close at the end of the month.

CHECK OUT SOME THE BRILLIANT PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT HERE