The Battle To Save Manhattans

Mon 18th Oct, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Noise complaints are the bane of live venues everywhere, and Manhattans in Vic Park has recently found themselves in the predicament that numerous live venues in Perth have faced before; turn it off by 10pm or be in a great deal of trouble. As venues become increasingly scarce, especially with the closing of the Castle and the Hydey, Perth cannot afford to lose another venue brave enough to support the original music scene. Bands are running out of places to play; a shame, considering the talent that is bursting out of the local scene.

Or, as Nagy put it, the battle to save Manhattans “is bigger than fucking Ben Hur!”

On Saturday night, four bands got together and took a stand by donating their door takings to help soundproof Manhattans.

Improv. noise merchants Nagy were up first and were a fascinating mixture of experimental guitar noise and beautiful synth. Beneath the rumblings of distorted guitar, droning bass and minimalist drumming was some gorgeous interplay with the synth, making for some moments of genius. They also did an interesting take on Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark which was suitably apt considering the dark lighting of Manhattans.

Like Junk is almost indescribable. Eccentric, erratic, dramatic, epic, noisy – they leapt genres and turned their set into performance art. Drummer Anetta Nevin slammed the drums like a goddess of thunder, never letting up from beginning to end, while keyboardist/vocalist Scott White twisted his vocals into all sorts of strange and wonderful permutations. Waves of fuzzed-out guitar washed across the keyboards (sometimes being played by White’s head) but strangely, it all worked. They ended the set with White throwing himself around the stage, leading to him accidentally pulling the mic out. Overall, a very entertaining set.

Fear of Comedy came out with a set of new material that touched on the gothic at times. With charismatic vocalist Laith Tierny in control at the front, the band were a heavy, powerful presence. The only slight complaint was that they seemed somewhat repetitive towards the end. The band was missing that extra something that would have taken their sound away from their comfort zone. Perhaps they have found too comfortable a niche for their music?

“Do you fucking like this?” demanded Dominic Pearce from Injured Ninja, and the eager crowd lapped up the noise merchants with unbridled enthusiasm. The band threw themselves into the music with a short but frenetic set, bombarding Manhattans with their trademark confronting noise freakouts. Noisy Armageddons followed brief respites of calm, allowing both the band and the crowd a chance to take a short breath before launching into another whirlwind of noise. Steven Hughes and Pearce tossed themselves around the stage like whirling dervishes, and it was contagious with the crowd joining in at the front.

For a brief moment it seemed that Injured Ninja would give the council the middle finger and play on longer than their allocated time, but they only crept a little over the 10pm curfew by a few minutes.

Saturday night was a night of great music by some of the most interesting bands currently in the Perth music scene. It was an excellent fundraiser, with one particular punter donating $800 to the cause. Hopefully Manhattans will weather the storm and be able to continue to serve as a venue for bands such as these.