It’s raining; its pouring and Little Barrie are a knocking. On Perth’s wettest April day to date the London three-piece braved the deluge, bringing their own special brand of funk, rock and soul to The Amplifier Bar.

Snatching the much coveted support slot, The Preytells set about playing to a slowly drying crowd. Having launched their debut EP Could I Change Your Mind? earlier in the year, the four-piece have become a staple of Perth’s weekends. As is the norm, they looked very professional, sounded professional and portrayed themselves as professionals. However all this does little if the songs are not there. They seemed wooden on stage, going through the motions and simply mimicking their heroes.

The Preytells were tight and solid. Their sound is easy to listen to and if it’s your thing, danceable, they simply lacked punch and any sense of spark. Playing a well-formed 45-minute set the crowd was responsive but in no way excited. Recorded their sound slips easily into the background but on stage they seem to be doing everything by the book, well rehearsed and planned out but leaving the audience wanting a lot more. The biggest problem The Preytells faced was that they played before the magic that is Little Barrie.

The final show of their Australian Tour, they set about playing an hour and a half pure funk/ rock numbers of the very dirtiest kind. Opening with Green Eyed Fool from their second album Stand Your Ground, they instantly had the now dry crowd a swaying and a top tapping.
With new drummer Billy Skinner banging away keeping a tempo and pace that makes your hips shake and head bop. The small frame of singer and guitarist Barrie Cadogan is a commanding figure on stage, chatting with the audience during songs and belting out bluesy lyrics and melodies.

Greener Pastures, from 2005’s We Are Little Barrie propelled the set further into the world of blues. Sounding like the bastard child of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Led Zepplin, Little Barrie are a throwback to a time of dirty rock and roll. The playful, Just Wanna Play, Long Hair and the Pin That Badge punctuated the middle of the set, keeping the crowd both enthralled and excited. Skinner banged out an amazing solo before the stunning surf-rock track Pretty Pictures displaying the new level the band had reached with Skinner on the skins.

Their sound suited the Amplifier Bar perfectly, a dirty club for a dirty band. The band themselves enjoying their final gig, playing to a crowd that although not a sell out was plentiful but more so extremely thankful for their visit. Finishing the set with current single Love You and the extremely soulful Pay to Join, dedicated to Cadogan’s local cousin, Little Barrie left the stage to thunderous applause.

Perth had seen a show of such raw rock and roll, something that lacks within Perth’s own scene. Returning to stage to play their 2005 radio gem, Free Salute and the Magic Sam 1950s classic 21 Days in Jail, they showed their sensibility and musical capabilities, from soul/funk bass lines to quick paced rockabilly guitar licks. Quite simply Little Barrie dried the night by playing a set of blistering, awe inspiring rock and roll.