Akron/Family @Mojo’s,Fremantle (04/10/11)

Thu 6th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The human body is approximately 61.8 per cent water. A burgeoning crowd at Mojos Fremantle became very aware and connected to this fact as American conducers of the greater spirit, Akron/Family descended upon the western shore of our southern land for the first time, subsequently transforming an eager audience into a flowing sea of cosmic awe.

The curiously awkward polyrhythmic life form, Mental Powers warmly greeted early attendees. This is a band that Perth city is truly lucky to call its own; a unique entity. Whilst it is true that stage presence is not their forte, it is also beyond the point. Upon sacrificing attention to the nature of each song, Mental Powers’ sounds create a transcendent state of mind. Tunes meander across incredible territory, jams float into circular patterns that have the potential to induce boredom, but this band treads the line of hypnosis and conscious engagement carefully to create something that is like no other.

Apricot Rail are a band that continue to develop, the dynamics created from their carefully calculated temporal shifts are masterful. With newest member, Justin Manzano now regularly featuring on laptop and samples, their sound has gained another dimension. The harmonising detuned guitars cement wonderfully with the wind instruments and electronics. Cleverly disguised pop music for the post-rock attuned mind, Apricot Rail tap into a sonic area that is epically appealing, yet vibrant and creative.

Our esteemed guests, Akron / Family are a band that can easily destroy large festival stages -and it is wonderful to behold. Their current three-piece touring line-up is a solid entity that has mastered the ability to connect with their audience and enlighten the listener. It was truly excellent to see band of such presence and stature on the small local stage of Mojo’s on a weeknight. Whilst driven from the triforce of guitar, bass and drums, all band members exhibited their keen musical abilities with three part harmonies, chaotic noise breakdowns from overdriven Casio keyboards and contact microphones; their variety of talent elevates their music far beyond the realm of whatever notions of ‘psychedelic’ you might have once held. Akron / Family is a spiritual mantric journey with the facade of a rock band.

Some important facts that we have learned from this trio: Hanging a large psychedelic bed sheet over your amplifier or on your keyboard stand improves sound quality, as does righteous facial hair.

Determined to convert the Tuesday night crowd into a Friday night atmosphere, Akron / Family cheekily demanded the audience’s attention, often leading sing alongs, clapping choruses and at one point intense meditation; taking the audience to the beach to convince us that we ‘are incredibly good looking. And also very rich’. These engaging moments were awesomely juxtaposed with raging, ball-tearingly sonic noise jams that dissolved the room into a hypnotising chaos.

The set largely drew from their latest record Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT but live, the songs were more heavily jammed and intensely amplified the atmosphere. So much more searingly loud and powerful, Akron / Family in the live realm elevates to a more intently righteous level, bringing the message directly into the consciousness. Parts of the performance saw the members of the band submerge themselves in the audience, channelling the energy of the room into the chorus before taking it back to the stage.

After a solid hour of demolishing minds and souls, Akron / Family bid farewell to the devoted crowd, returning them back to their own personal flow, but united as a fresh clear ocean.

Take yourself there now. You are alone. You realise you are incredibly good looking. Also very rich. You are the water.