In frontman Jack’s own words The Pretty Littles found themselves in the midst of ‘a rare treat’ when the Tote was filled to capacity on Saturday night, “my Mum and Dad couldn’t get in!”
The band room was bursting at the seams with friends, family and a tangible sense of Saturday night excitement. The band put their own pretty spin on TV On The Radio’s Wolf Like Me to open.
Keeping it in the family, Simon was sorely missed but was replaced by his senior sibling Nick. While referring to himself as “the B-grade version of his better, younger brother,” he fit in seamlessly, at one point giving a glimpse of his chiseled chest.
The band cites a long list of influences including their idols The Vasco Era (Sid was in the audience) and they successfully invoked several. They even playing a cheeky homage to Matchbox 20, “an important band from all our childhoods, who didn’t get the recognition they deserved.”
With some success following the release of their last EP Fairweather, produced by Tom Lansek of Big Scary, the boys sold out the launch of their latest seven track, I Am Not From A Small Town released earlier this year. From it, they played single Mumma, Hectic Psychotic and Small Towns. The band energetically subverted expectations with OmBeach (“you think it’s going to be a ballad but it’s not”) and slowed things down with their ‘folk’ number Mickey’s Got A Knife.
There was an abundance of beers, babes and boogying. With girls on shoulders and gents surfing the crowd, my mate Jules could be forgiven for her remark “it’s like the Big Day Out, but at The Tote!” The band’s energy was contagious and the crowd was infected, with the boys joined by the babes (and I suspect a few of the baby-boomers) up on stage.
With an indefinite break coming up, friends and fans took full advantage of the chance to see a band building a name for itself with strong vocals, impressive slashing skills and a sick live performance. Judging by their maniacal jumping and jiving, they were not disappointed.
BY JO ROBIN
LOVED: The weirdo who kept blowing on my bud Jules’ neck.
HATED: The topless man behind me, swinging his shirt (counter to its intended function) around his head.
DRANK: A pint.
