If you like Bear Grylls, jogging on the spot, joining in the Riverdance or braving the wet, Amplifier Bar would have catered to your needs last Friday night, dishing out a mixed bag of post-punk garage rock, indie pop and electric rock as local indie-rock boys Good Little Fox launched their EP We Make Party.

But this exciting trio weren’t the only hot act the mixed crowd of jeans-sporting, scarf-tangling, beanie-wearing folk were out to catch. Fiery rockers Luna Parade kicked off the wet winter evening with an energetic and fun-filled set of electric rock. It was clear this trio have a strong fan base as the bare, grungy dance floor gradually turned into a packed out foot-stomping, drink-gulping space.

Front-man Michael Paolino introduced the band’s first track as one “for a guy you might know…Bear Grylls.” With nerdy-larrikin loving lyrics, Bear Grylls was an imaginative tune which had even one crazed-fan yell “He’s a real man” as the song concluded to which Paolino replied “Ah don’t get me started on the realness of his manliness.”

Drummer Darrell Sundai’s luscious rocker locks were out in whip-lashing mode and his glittering-studded shoulder pads should have come with a warning for epileptics. His sporadic thrashings created an energetic atmosphere throughout the band’s set.
Vigilante, a tune about an obsession with video games had Paolino yelling into the microphone, “Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!” accompanied by an epic drum-solo. Red Red Red was conveyed literally as red lights drowned the stage and softer drum beats took over. The Grid, a tune about alcoholism saw all band members rid inhibitions and go wild on stage and Las Vegas had a red-head and a suit acting out Fear and Loathing on the frontline. Despite the ear-splitting tuning of electric guitars for final track Joseph, the echoing vocals and outrageous bass left even the few drunken hecklers happy.

It was unlucky that many punters had made a slippery dash to the bar or vacated to the courtyard to indulge in the warmth of a cigarette as The Jackards took to the stage and the soft melody in Back On My Feet soothed the rugged-up crowd. Despite the trio’s melancholic introduction, frontman Glenn Sarangapany demanded attention as his stunning bluesy vocals zapped the ears and eyes of the distracted in Hey Kid, a song about a cat. After a short, entertaining duet of Bon Jovi’s Bed of Roses they launched into the band’s tune of the same title, which was a highlight for the evening. Bass player James Trewenack’s demand for some crazy dancing saw a possie of pop-loving rockers close in on what Trewenack described as “a semi-circle of death” or the empty three metres of dance pit between the dimly-lit stage and the crowd. The heavy electrics and overly loud sound in Think Aloud didn’t deter the crowd and Sarangapany’s conversational vocals in 16 Months were another amusing surprise.

Indie-electro rocking, Switzerland gallivanting gentleman Carl Fox humbly graced the stage with his fellow Good Little Fox knights in indie armour to wow the ear-ringing crowd. Beginning with loud, strong vocals and an unusual bass melody, Can You Feel It was the perfect track to kick off the band’s set followed by “Baby come over, I wanna touch ya” accompanied by orgasmic sounds in Let’s Fuck Like Crazy People! that may have won adoration from old-school Michael Jackson and perhaps even Justin Timberlake fans.
Called back to the stage for some tambourine shaking, Paolino added his intriguing vocal harmonies to Darkside and the track’s mellow, sombre undertones worked well. Jealous saw friends and Good Little groupies jump up onto stage and join in the action.

A drunken groupie addressed as “Dennis” was called to “break it down” as the steady drumbeat introduced the song for the village people; We Make Party. With all heads beating and bodies jumping, Paolino and Sundai tambourine smashing, the stage-audience barrier disappeared in a spectacle of party-hungry creatures. Fox started jogging on the spot and asked everyone to join in being crazy, carefree fans; many did. With his jogging group under his wing, Models the ‘yet-to-be-discovered’ indie-electro anthem began. With lyrics like “Oh, she’s so creepy” and “Oh she’s so skinny. So skinny,” delivered in a soft, high eerie voice, Models would have had The Teenagers running for their money.

As final track for the band’s set, Bounce began, not many feet were on the floor. Instead, everyone was either stage bouncing, audience-bound bouncing and even bouncing behind the bar.
With such a mighty fine showcase of talent, Luna Parade, The Jackards and Good Little Fox really did make party and all party animals carried on into the early hours, ignoring the wet and livin’ it up Bear Grylls style.

Thanks to Nic Morien for the photos