Bleeding Knees Club @ Alhambra

Completely insane. Well that's what it felt like Easter Sunday when everyone's favourite Gold Coast duo, Bleeding Knees Club took to the stage at Alhambra Lounge. Supported by  Brisbane's Gung Ho and Dune Rats, the night was anything as sombre as the holiday is perhaps intended. 


Bleeding Knees' Alex Wall and Jordan Malane have known each other for years but 18 short months ago, they both decided to teach each other guitar (neither of them could play) and throw some songs together. They often admit that the entire venture was originally a bit of a joke, even their name is reference to "giving head on gravel." Theirs is a success story unlike many home-grown bands circulating the Australian music scene at the moment. Before many people in Australia even knew of their existence, British publications were raving about the latest lo-fi garage group our little old colony had produced. NME even included Bleeding Knees in their Top 50 Bands to watch in 2012.

  

Despite their limited experience, the pair have very distinct ideas about what they wanted to sound like as a band. They recorded their latest EP with Dev Hynes (Lightspeed Champion, Blood Orange) in only five days. Nothing To Do was released earlier last month before the boys began their tour around Australia.

Although Gung Ho is actually the name of an old US sitcom, the Brisbane group are definitely reviving the title in a whole new way. The group bounced up onto the stage, quite excitedly although I didn't take much notice at the time. Once they started playing however, I was completely surprised at the sound they were producing, much more sophisticated than their youth had lead me to expect. Side By Side was an absolute highlight of the entire evening, drawing quite a large crowd away from the bar in a dancing frenzy. You can listen to the song on the band's Unearthed page: http://www.triplejunearthed.com/GungHo

Dune Rats were equally as fun although perhaps a bit more intoxicated. This didn't seem to bother the crowd although for all their hype I couldn't help but be mildly disappointed. Perhaps it was because the songs that they have recorded and gained such a following for were a little difficult to distinguish with all the raucous. Their performance definitely improved with time though and I certainly don't think that they should be dismissed as just another garage band just yet.  

Bleeding Knees Club worked their way through what seemed to be their entire catalogue, and everyone absolutely loved it. Every so often Alex would pause and ask Jordan which song they should do next before they'd launch into another energetic frenzy of scratchy guitar and tomfoolery. Jumping from the Bass Drum, into the crowd or across the stage, no one was standing still for more than a moment. Nothing To Do and Teenage Girls were standouts, and the crowd did not need to be asked twice when Wall told everyone to storm the stage. By the last chorus, chords were flying, people were flying for that matter, security guards were panicky and everyone was laughing. They may not have a whole lot of experience under their belts, but they sure know how to have fun.

 

Ball Park Music @ The Hi Fi

THE 180° TOUR

BALL PARK MUSIC 

 NANTES + CUB SCOUTS

Ball Park Music are on a roll. Last year they released their debut album, toured the country twice over, had two entries in Triple J's Hottest 100 and collected the J Award for Best Unearthed Artist. They are currently in the middle of their National headline tour before they join the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, City and Colour, Wavves and The Maccabees for Groovin' The Moo Festival. Their show at the Brisbane Hi Fi had sold out weeks ago and the line outside the building stretched well around the block as people arrived early to hear the support bands. 

Local indie darlings, Cub Scouts, delighted the crowd's pop sensibilities with their catchy melodies and quirky lyrics. No topic was too obscure for the pen of lead singer Tim Nelson, who belted out tunes about everything from a disturbing girl in his anatomy class, to his pet dog, Evie. 

Cub Scouts

Sydney outfit, Nantes have been turning heads recently, earning critical acclaim for their single, Fly. Their synth heavy rock harkens to an early Strokes sound with moodier influences from the likes of Radiohead and Joy Division. Although it would have been nice if the lead singer's microphone was louder, the band had a cohesive vibe well beyond their tender years together. 

Nantes

If Ball Park Music began their musical career as an obscure Triple J Unearthed favourite, this could be nothing further from where they are at now. The group were applauded onto the stage in a midst of flashing lights, giant inflatable fish and friendly comic jostling. The crowd were treated to a musical introduction in the form of Pump It by The Black Eyed Peas before the band smashed out Literally Baby, their newest single. The energy in the HiFi was infectious, the venue was completely packed out and lead singer, Sam Cromack, was clearly loving it. Ball Park Music were home, and the locals couldn't be more excited about their home-grown quirky indie rock idols.

The night was dominated with tracks from the band's debut album, Happiness And Surrounding Suburbs, however there were a few new songs that are currently being recorded for their sophomore album. From the early preview, Australia can continue to expect bigger and better things from Ball Park. 

 Despite their ever-growing reputation as a fast paced and highly energetic live act, the performance mellowed mid-show for a charity announcement; bassist, Jennifer Boyce has been fundraising for the Leukemia Foundation's Worlds Greatest Shave and intends to shave off all of her hair the following morning. She has donation tins strategically placed around the HiFi in the hope of reaching her $5,000 goal. Quite dramatically, at the end of the next song, a crew member takes to the stage with a pair of scissors and cuts off Jen's long ponytail (the first step towards totally shaving). What a woman.  

IFly (I F*cking Love You) whips the crowd into a dance frenzy until Cromack suddenly decides to sit down and have a glass of wine before launching into the final chorus. The band are jumping off amplifiers and bouncing around the stage, clearly having the time of their lives.

They finished the set with It's Nice To Be Alive, the lead single from their debut album and recently voted #31 in Triple J's Hottest 100 last year. The finale was met with such enthusiasm that Cromack's vocals were barely audible above the screams of the audience. The group left the stage amidst an explosion of confetti cannons, reverb and screaming although the show was not quite over yet.  Returning to the stage for an encore, "This is a cover that we've never practiced before, we just all know it," announces Cromack before belting their way through The Kinks' All Day and All of the Night. 

YOU SHOULD DOWNLOAD: It's Nice To Be Alive, All I Want Is You, Sad Rude Future Dude