Friday the 13th may be unlucky for some, but for The Fault it turned into a very lucky and extremely enjoyable night.

Deciding to launch debut EP Prologue/ Epilogue on this night may have resulted in an absolute disaster for the band. But the four-piece created their own luck.

Along with four other bands and one solo act filling the gaps in the outside beer garden, black Friday was quickly looking like it would be one to remember.

Fear of Comedy opened the night to a modest but slowly building crowd. Fear of Comedy have always had an entertaining and unique show and tonight was no different. However they do suffer from a lack of varied material — they move from song to song like a band that has been together for some time but they fail to capture your imagination. And without the material, theatrics fail to impress.

The crowd started to grow steadily, especially for a Friday night. A reflection of the extensive lineup and the popularity of the 2005 Next Big Thing winners. The beauty of such a packed lineup is the quick turn around of bands.  Before we knew it, The Preytells had taken the stage.

The Preytells had the look, they had the equipment, and they had the crowd but they did not have the show. In a lineup of bands that consistently kept the crowd engaged and  more importantly entertained, The Preytells failed to do both. They have a collection of ‘ok’ songs but on stage they simply blended into the background. Over time they may prevail into a solid pop-rock band but at this gig they simply suffered on a stage and a situation that was a beyond them.

As Jeff Strong played to a now full Amplifier on a makeshift stage in the beer garden, I chatted to The Fault keyboardist Akemi Corbett. “We didn’t really expect this many people” she said, umbrella in hand. “We tried to put together the best possible show and we believe we’ve have done it, Black Friday or not.”

Strong played a quick 20-minute  collection of nice but melodic tunes that entertained the outside crowd and allowed the night to flow on through even when the main stage was quiet.

Three piece rock group Bus 56 were the next to strut the Black Friday stage. As they progressed through their set, a breath of fresh air literally hit me in the face. Their in-your-face riffs and purely rock-based song structures come to life on stage. Lead singer and guitarist Alex has an amazing presence and is backed up by a talented rhythm section. Bus 56 played before a varied crowd and kept them intrigue throughout their set.

Once again Strong played in the beer garden, entertaining a crowd that seemed less then interested. His combination of talented guitar playing and simple, easily digestible songs allow his to engage the few that wish to be engaged.

After three bands the crowd were slowly reaching a crescendo, from here the night could go two ways. It could fall to the curse of Black Friday or it could surpass expectations of an eager and large crowd putting to rest the fears of a superstitious horde.

As the penultimate band took the stage, the crowd filled both the inside and the outside areas of the venue, far exceeding the numbers for Dallas Crane, who were playing in the adjoining bar. The Silents, decked out in black clothing and with lead singer Ben Stowe attired in a bishop-style black cloak, had certainly got into the theme of the night. This being the first time I had seen the band but completely aware of the hype around them, I was naturally sceptical. As they launched into their first song I was quickly turned toward their hype. Their sound rocketed across the venue, hitting the back wall and slamming into the back of your head. They evoke the sound of a somewhat by-gone era, a sound seemingly straight from Manchester but with the true isolated sound of a Perth band. Their set was tight, true and captivating, never wavering throughout their 40-minute set on a sound that blew this brand new fan away.

And so with that it was time to see if The Fault had signed their death warrant by holding their own launch on Black Friday — was it to go all wrong or was it to go completely right.

They took the stage and immediately hit into Devil Thumbs a Ride, a catchy rock song that highlights their improvements over the last 18 months. From winning The Next Big Thing in 2005, The Fault have both enhanced their live show and the way they work as a band. They have also vastly improved their ability to write varied and complex songs: lead singer James Rogers has found his voice and made it clear throughout their set.

They jumped from song to song with little talk, a few thankyous here and there but instead they allowed their set to flow. The wonderfully-titled Mess You Made and Meet Me at the Gates increased the excitement of the crowd but more so the confidence of the band. As the set went by they stepped into their stride and there was no turning back.

Corbett and Rogers have a real presence on stage, feeding off the crowd and their own unique music. As they neared the end of their set, the mood around the venue had already changed into a party. As they began The Memoirs of Dr Mafesto they invited their die-hard fans onto stage to enjoy the moment with them. As 15 members of the audience danced on stage, The Fault in a sense arrived on the Australian music scene. 18 months after starting, they had found their own voice and the crowd loved everything they had to say.

But they were not quite finished — they played two more superb tracks, finishing with an impromptu jam between Rogers and his unsuspecting father. Ending with a sing-along of The Beatles’ You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away, The Fault not only showcased their ability to have fun on a rather large stage but more so their musical ability. They produce music, much like others on tonight’s bill that hits you in the face but then softly picks you back up for a hug.

An amazing showcase of Western Australian music; a large crowd, great bands and personalities that will define the scene for years to come.