Nominated for the Most Popular Live Act in this year’s WAMi Awards, Snowman have been shakin’ our brains with their swampy brand of horror themed surf-rock for several years. This occasion was no exception, they thrilled the audience with a lucrative selection of songs from last year’s self titled debut.

Apologies to Abbe May of The Fuzz fame as I missed her set earlier in the evening. Next to hit the stage were Melbourne’s Straightjacket Nation. They have been out West for a bit of a tour of late and have brought with them a fierce brand of adrenaline pumping screamo-hardcore. This band is one that makes you stand up and pay attention whether you want to or not. If hardcore is your cup of tea then Straight Jacket Nation were not to be missed, and certainly made a few new fans during their time in Perth.

The final act before the headliners, Mink Mussel Creek, with six or more performers on stage at any time seemed right at home in front of a nearly full house at the Rosemount Hotel. Moving between heavy-rhythmic, bass driven crowd shakers to lengthy psychedelic jam-outs this band has a lot to offer. While the vocal delivery can be a bit sparse at times, with an array of different rock and traditional folk instruments the band knows how to innovate when it comes to song structures. Mink Mussel Creek also know when to stray away from overdoing it with too much of a good thing – allowing their musical prowess to keep the audience entertained right throughout their set.

After an anxious wait between sets, the lights dimmed and Snowman came out on stage. They began with album opener The Black Tide, and then the wailing single Smoke and Mirrors, its mariachi feel echoed throughout the venue with every falsetto note that Andy Citawarman hit. The rockin’ You Are a Casino followed, along with Swimming with Sharks sung by the svelte Olga Hermannuisson. They finished their set with the ringing western Cocaine Goldrush and a quick rendition of Shake Your Brains before walking off stage and leaving a satisfied audience with ringing in their ears and the bands infectious riffs haunting their brainwaves. Overall it was a typically stunning and eccentric performance from a band well deserving of a nomination for Perth’s best live act.