Rrocklobster of Perth

Live Review
Dry Dry River Single Launch
Ya-Ya’s Bar
Thursday 24 July

with Sprawl, September Sun and Lyts.

It’s encouraging to know that a decent crowd will turn up to a mid-week local gig. Punters were streaming through the door, eager to see Dry Dry River’s Who Single Launch. Frontman Jon Madd is well known in Perth Burlesque and Magician circles, and people were keen to see him in action with the band.

Anyone who hadn’t read the set list would be rather surprised to be greeted by duo Lyts, who were warming up the early crowd with their eclectic sounds built around ‘80s funk. Vocalist Laith Tierney’s voice appeared to have three main settings: flowing like smooth smooth caramel, deep and creaky, and ‘80s pop falsetto. Alongside him, Yaegar Strauks worked the keyboard and laptop to create an array of sound effects. Intensity snowballed throughout the set and by the end it was like an on-stage party, worthy of the audience’s full attention.

Pete Knott’s surging vocals captured everyone attention. This guy can hold a note! September Sun’s songs were laden with crashing drums and plenty of cymbal and hi-hat action, combined with crunchy guitar chords and intricate finger picking and deep, bouncing bass lines. There wasn’t a pair of boots in the room that weren’t tapping. The set ended with Knott joining two audience members in a crazy dancing session while the rest of the band thrashed it out on stage. It’s easy to see why September Sun have been receiving so much attention from the press lately! Keeps your eyes peeled for their next gig announcement.

Stars of the night, Dry Dry River played an early set, considerate of their fans who probably had work the next morning. After a short vocal intro, Madd bounded off stage to sing and dance and was instantly surrounded by a group of enthusiastic crowd members. Stepping back onto the stage, he ended the first song with arms outstretched reminiscent of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ The Redeemer statue. With a simple gesture he swept the audience forward and it was time for the next song. People were shimmying, shaking, skanking and fist-pumping. Madd joined the crowd once more while other band members flaunted their skills during an instrumental track. Weeknight revelers continued to groove it up, loving the new single Who, and singing along after some encouragement from Madd. “If you know the whoa-whoa-whoa part, sing along.” To the audience’s delight there were still a few songs left, including strong and catchy riff-rich Wolves and the title track for the upcoming EP, Faces. Listen out for the bassy hook at the start!

Some went home, worn out and ready for bed; others stayed on to watch Sprawl, with reckless abandon for the next morning. Bassist Edric Matviev showed candid surprise, “Hey people are still here. That’s great!” Stayers were treated to syncopated drumming, comical lyrics sung by a squawky voice, lots of pedal work with the guitar, and twangy bass. Punters were kept on their toes with the unpredictable song structures, mistakenly applauding during mid-song fade-outs and pauses. The synthesizer keyboard fell on guitarist Ben Claessens’ foot while he played trumpet but he continued to play, unfazed. The world could be crumbling down around these guys and they’d still keep doing their thing.
 

Review by Rrocklobster of Perth