Bit by Bats, I [Love] Space,Modular Lounge @ Spectrum,(01/07/06)

Wed 5th Jul, 2006 in Gig Reviews

There’s something wrong with this picture: It’s a Saturday night as I stand on this, the hippest street in Sydney. Normally there should be hundreds, nay thousands of people out and about all throughout Darlinghurst, instead it’s eerily quiet. Either it’s too early or people are being typical Sydneysiders: in that no-one wants to go out when it’s this cold. After all, it is the middle of winter.

Inside Spectrum things don’t look too great either, there’s hardly a handful of people watching the first band for this evening, Modular Lounge. This quirky four-piece have been working their collective butts off playing every venue they can muster in recent times. After being an all-girl band and chopping and changing the lineup things appear settled on two boys (Joel and Isaac) and two girls (the cute sisters Greer and Sophie), the latter being the guitarists, singers and frontwomen of the band. Modular Lounge do not sound dissimilar to The Donnas or even Skulker as they effortlessly perform some pop gems which unfortunately can’t make the crowd take notice. They belt out tracks such as ‘Wendy James’ (who of course is the singer of the great 80s new wave band Transvision Vamp) and ‘Fabio’. After the final track and new single, ‘Martin Place’, Greer and Co. thank the crowd and truly mean it, their modest smiles evident as they exit stage right, with nary a glowing response.

With a name like I [Love] Space you perceive visions of a grandiose band, with an epic, out-of-this-world demeanour that takes you through soundscapes and canyons of experimental noise. And maybe there’s some truth in that, but even the most motivated of bands can’t make an impression on tonight’s crowd, even their instruments appear to be against them as strings break and amps conk out. This foursome are a lot like Muse, in that they can bend music to their advantage, and singer Joel has a strong voice that can change from a whimper to a wail as easily as the wind changes direction. I [Love] Space belt out some solid tracks such as ‘Paul’s Soul’ and ‘The Kill’; bass and guitars a strong mood builder. As they wrap up their set they get a decent reaction from us the punters, albeit not for lack of trying.

But none of that matters now. The room is as full as it’s gonna get and people are really only here for one band, the Adelaide-via Melbourne trio who goes by the name of Bit By Bats. Over the past few months Owen, Peter and Ben have graced our fair city many times, playing festivals such as Come Together and squeezing in gigs where they can.

It has to be noted that frontman and head honcho Owen has never looked better (read: slimmer), as he protrudes from the stage in his shiny red winkle-pickers and gorgeous cherry-red SG guitar. Over the course of this 40-minute set we are introduced to a couple of new songs which will feature on their debut album that is out soon, a few older songs like ‘Dance The Dance’, which gets a ceremonious welcome from the crowd and even prompts a fan to do just that: dance the dance from the stage!

Tonight Bit By Bats seem to be in a strange headspace, as if they can’t play off the energy from the lacklustre crowd. It’s not all bad, there are a few people dancing and having a great time, but by the time things are in full swing a lot of punters have dispersed.

Another popular track that gets toes tapping and hips swiveling is ‘Mercy Green’, off their last EP Let’s Go Romeo.Whilst the trio are making glorious yet gloomy indie pop I am salivating at the prospect of an extended theremin jam session, with Owen hinting at it every so often during a few choruses as he brings the neck of his guitar closer to it and delivers a sweet robotic element to the night. In retrospect I know that was as good as the theremin-workout went, with the lads not overly enthused with this Moog-esque psychedelic piece of equipment this evening.

Things are quickly wrapped after tunes such as ‘Neon Flux’ and ‘Golden Radio’ get delivered. There is a great applause and before you know it the band is off-stage with drinks in hands. There were a few passionate fans that were helplessly cheering for an encore, sad to say this was not their lucky night. Proof that even though it may be nice and warm inside, the winter chill has an everlasting effect that freezes the souls of bands and punters alike.