Best Coast @ Becks Music Box,Perth (04/03/11)

Mon 7th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Best Coast started their tour on the West (and best) Coast for their first visit to this fine country.

First to play was eclectic one man band Lewis Floyd Henry who made quite the racket with his blues guitar and distorted mic effects. It was swampy, stompy blues rock that felt like the soundtrack to a day out at the tip scouring for treasures in the rough. His afro curls tossed about and the crowd were slowly drawn by magnetic force to his charming yet chaotic presence. Dedicating a song to an octopus at Cottesloe Beach was just the icing on the crazy cake.

Best Coast expressed their happiness to be in Australia, despite the fact that frontwoman Bethany Cosentino doesn’t usually like touring. Perhaps it’s because she’s away from the man she is so obviously obsessed with as shown in almost every single song of the set.

The first song was underwhelming, Cosentino seemed slightly nervous and her vocal wasn’t so strong. But from the second song onwards the band consistently delivered their surf-pop summery sweetness. Summer Mood was the song to kick things into action, and it felt appropriately nostalgic for the season change. Goodbye came next and then The End with all of it’s dark yearning. Crazy For You carried on the same theme. Boyfriend got the expected big cheer but it was When I’m With You that was a highlight with it’s catchy hook and positive vibe.

We were treated to a couple of new songs. Sunny Adventure was one of them that was sweetly dedicated to their visit in Perth. It was youthful and carefree, peppy and a fresh break from all the pining over a certain young man. The other new song was When You Wake Up that seemed to show she’s transferred her insecurities from catching the boy to keeping him. They also played a cover of Lesley Gore’s That’s The Way Boys Are that easily fit in with the rest of their material.

The crowd was full of indie kids who were cooler than cool and most stood still to watch. There were a few more dedicated fans at the front of the stage, moshing and dancing along over-excitedly. One appeared to be Bobb Bruno’s mini me with his large afro-tic hair bouncing around in a suitably dorky fashion. Bruno is a joy to watch, even if only because he looks like the slightly nerdy guy who’s struck gold and living the dream, content to be sidekick to the laid back pretty charms of Cosentino.

One over-excited punter showed up the relaxed security by jumping on stage twice to dance along, the first time he was politely escorted off, on the second he was thrown down off the stage. Cosentino exclaimed she broke a tooth at the same time that he hit the floor but continued with song Each and Every Day. After leaving for the encore they reappeared, and as she reassured us the tooth was still intact they played an old song Over the Ocean, appropriate to the time and place.

Thanks to Best Coast for bringing their laid back Californian vibe to the west coast. Becks Music Box was such an appropriate setting for everyone to enjoy waving goodbye to summer.