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Review: Rebecca Jameson
STRANGE sounds emanated from the Rosemount this Friday (April
30, 2004) as the cooler Perth evening weather began to grace the
region, but that is not to say they were not entertaining.
On this night, and with the Rosemount renowned for its indie
Friday sound, a more funk/jazz appeal took over, with the album
launch of Imprint’s Scotama, and the line-up of Scheme, Eye
Spy, Dyslexic Fish and, of course, Imprint themselves.
The Rosemount is a traditionally difficult venue to fill, its
roominess often swallowing up decent-sized crowds.
However, on this night, this was not the case, and at no time
was there that feeling of emptiness!
In fact, the place was absolutely buzzing with people.
Scheme kicked the night off with a particularly jazzy
feel. They are a band of great musicians, on all fronts, with
an ethereal voice in the lead vocalist, that was tantalising.
However, as is often the case with any jazz band, there is the
danger that it will become essentially background music whenever
an audience is not a jazz congregation, as was the case (bar the
occasional exceptional and driving segment of song) on this night.
Regardless, the audience was generally appreciative of the sound
that Scheme provided and happily applauded the efforts and easy
style of this enjoyable and talented band.
Then came Eye Spy! A four-piece – keyboards, drums,
guitar and bass – that started the night swinging in earnest.
As soon as their set began with a machine-gun style, rock influenced,
psychedelic number, the audience filled that so-often-empty space
in front of the stage.
And it only got better from there on in!
With the lights and smoke machines heightening the impact of
the performance, Eye Spy entertained with enthusiasm, enjoyment,
professionalism and swagger.
Psychedelia, indie, rock, funk, rap and even a Caribbean-style
calypso were thrown into the melting pot of originality that is
definitely unified by a sound and style that is the band’s
own.
Throughout their set, Eye Spy wrapped the audience closer to
them, with an underground-bordering on the sleazy feel of New
York, Paris or London, but with fun, fun, fun coming across as
perhaps the most important message of the band.
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Eye Spy are surely a band destined for greater things and the
audience seemed to fully appreciate this fact!
Dyslexic Fish were charged with the task of following,
and they successfully built on the enthusiasm generated by Eye
Spy.
With six members on stage, two acting as a brass and backing
section, the stage looked both a little over-crowded and diverse,
with all members reflecting very different images.
But their more funk-influenced sound, traversing into rock,
coupled with tight composition, a lead vocalist with range, and
an enjoyment factor that was tops, carried the audience along
with them as the Rosemount crowd thoroughly enjoyed itself.
The diversity of composition was enough to keep all elements
of the crowd entertained, and cheer after cheer followed each
song.
Imprint rounded off the night with their album launch.
These were, perhaps, the unexpected party of the night, with
a nu-metal, rather than indie-funk feel, to their sound.
Certainly, they were good and kept an excellent proportion of
the crowd entertained, but there was also a migration out of the
Rosie from the back of the crowd, and bemused looks from around
the bar following the versatility and musicianship of Dyslexic
Fish and Eye Spy.
Their music, despite counter claims in Perth’s music press,
did seem to reflect a nu-metal style and sound that has been done
better before, such as by the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers,
and much of the vocalist’s charisma seemed to lie in his
ability to scream.
Yet, even so, an awesome number of people did get off on this,
and, as such, the event must be deemed a success for the band.
Certainly, the highlight of the set had to be the amazing exhibition
of the power of the bass, coupled with a four-piece brass accompaniment
by members of Dyslexic Fish.
Overall, despite perhaps the support acts stealing the show,
the Imprint album launch provided an excellent example of how
a gig should be organised … and all compliments must surely
go to the members of Imprint here!
Firstly, there was an excellent line-up of bands, which marked
a refreshing change, as, so often, bands involved in launches
purposefully choose weaker acts for support … definitely
not so here!
Then, there was the use of a pair of MCs, providing both humour
and a means of introduction for each of the bands … so rarely
utilised these days!
And, finally, there was the preview of PVC … Imprint’s
video, that provided an intermission and change of focus away
from the stage, and the live music.
All in all, there was surely no one leaving the Rosemount disappointed
with the music and entertainment on this night!
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