The Underground Stage
“If Life After Football had any more jerky, snapping madness, they’d surely crack a vertebra. Imagine the horror of just thinking about a cross between PiL and QOTSA. Then imagine the sheer, nerve-shredding JOY of it.” Facebook | Instagram [flickr_set id=”72157707031760944″]
“The impeccably-named Moms Today are (bar their drummer, because drummers) almost shy about the razor-edged, bouncy racket they conjure up. Each track is sharp, and giddy, and ever-so-slightly cross. There is much of the fun here.” Facebook | Instagram jesus (demo) by moms today [flickr_set id=”72157689887604123″]
“Whispering Jackie are confident in the way an opponent is when you just know you’re about to lose a poker hand, or a fight. That serrated vocal, the guitars that blow eardrums, pounding rhythms to both upset and soothe stomachs… someone take this set and nail it to my forehead.” Facebook | Instagram [flickr_set id=”72157706834906615″]
“Pirra have a super-smooth sense of song running through them. Every tune is polished so hard you could shave in the reflection, but sharp enough to draw blood too. Just, in fact, like the best kinds of pop.” Facebook | Instagram | Twitter [flickr_set id=”72157676676899797″]
“Cherry Earhart is packing a band tonight, and although the solo work is a pleasure on its own, the band show is electrically-powered. Not like a Tesla, like chewing on a fucking mains cable. Toothy grins made into music.” Facebook | Instagram | Twitter [flickr_set id=”72157689862679223″]
“Laura Imbruglia brings it (mostly) solo tonight, and it’s been a while. There’s no erosion of talent, these songs stand up straight and proud, like Kristin Hersh in a pop mood, then Courtney Barnett in a towering temper, tall and fun and angry and complex. If you want to perform songs at some point, make […]
“Victoria have come from some pretty amazing bands – Vines, Community Radio, Youth Group, Songs – so it’s no surprise that, even when kinda-sorta still working shit out there are flashes of utter genius. There are moments of jangly wonder, moments where I think of Pavement. Hell, I’ve *been* at worse Pavement shows than this. […]
“Stressless are (I think) debuting tonight, but this ain’t no-one’s first time, this is polished out of the gate and instantly adorable from note one. The guitars ring like bloody bells, and the joy seeps into your pores. This is a delight of a set.” [flickr_set id=”72157689821824463″]
“Dying Adolescence have a full bag of tricks. Everything they try, they land – wonky lo-fi, solo grunge rage, slow and large, enormo-tune bangers, it’s a great set. There’s tons of pedigree here – Neighbourhood Void, Bleeding Knees Club – so it’s not a surprise, but it’s a very different vibe than you’d expect from […]