The Bakery reopening party,Perth (25/09/10)

Mon 27th Sep, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Find yourself in the crowd

It has been a long year in Perth without the Bakery; a year in which we also lost the Hydey and the Castle, two other venues long renowned for providing performance space to bands who aren’t interested in formulaic creations, who might be hit or miss depending on the mood of the local crowd. Just when it seemed there was nowhere left for interesting / experimental local music, the Bakery announced its reopening with a host of interesting and experimental bands – not guaranteed to be your cup of tea, but guaranteed to be different from the usual fare.

With The Epic of Gilgamesh reclaiming their inner savage, along with half of the drummers in Perth in the headline spot, The Bakery wasted no time dissembling about what we would find when it opened its doors once again. Clearly, we were to be challenged.

Mental Powers was a challenge. Completely unlike live trance, but capable of putting you into that brain-off headspace where you see everything but feel none of it – their music comes complete with inappropriate moaning (or lyrics?) when you least expect it. It was strangely arresting, but will probably require more than thirty minutes effort to fully appreciate what these shy lads are trying to achieve.

It would prove to be a night of multiple drummers, smRts had two, as well as a wholly unnecessary number of guitars, aggravated by an unforgivable lack of bass. They made up for it with what sounded like traditional Serbian-surf guitar noodling though. It had the crowd on their feet and dancing like they were in the jungle one minute, and at a wedding the next. Most entertaining.

Songs from Sydney was your more traditional two guitar one bass one drums setup, and they started out sounding a bit production-line indie. Probably that’s the song triple J will pick up, but as the set went on, the sound got more interesting, like psychedelic folk without the acoustic guitars or daisy chains. Max Doyle up front channelled Dylan a couple of times, whilst the band channelled Brian Jonestown on the nod. Clearly noticing that all eyes in the audience were on their stunning bassist and keyboardist, Ela Stiles Doyle quipped; “we’ve bought some vinyl down with us… Ela will be selling it…”

There was time for a quick trip to the bar, where service was fast and friendly, and the drinks were (mostly) very reasonably priced, a moment to marvel at the outdoor seating that looked as though it was made completely from driftwood, and a tour of the Twin Peaks tunnel to the room full of couches and a visit to the small lounge rooms set up around the court yard, before the crowd shuffled inside to see Pond. Made up of musicians from other successful local acts, Pond is a chaotic jam that somehow manages to sound good. Watching them, you get the sense that Pond is everything their labels won’t let them be, and nothing rehearsed. It’s hard to imagine these guys going to band practice, more likely they just end up jamming in someone’s house together and songs happen. Sunlight Cardigan was the set highlight, with the audience joining in to help them sing.

After the fastest changeover Perth has ever seen, a drum circle appeared before the stage, and the members of Injured Ninja and French Rockets plus Jamie Sher of Sugar Army appeared on stage in various states of blow-dried, face-painted shirtlessness and an actual hush fell over the crowd.

Support drummers at the ready, Dominic Pierce looked positively demonic as he picked up a pair of sticks and led the chant of “Gil-GA-Meesshh!” As the drummers belted their floor toms, those in the audience not standing with their mouths agape began to writhe to the rhythm led by the select few in the centre of the drum circle, including the occasional giant cymbals guy. In what seemed like no time at all, they were announcing that they had only one more for us, but the last one had horns… no, really, a collective of various horn players trooped out to join the drummers and add a bit of jazz to the jungle. Nice work Gilgamesh, can’t wait to see you again.

Thank science the Bakery is back. Perth was so much smaller without it.

Find yourself in the crowd