It’s an outrageously chilly Friday night at the Northcote Social Club, but after an opening set from DJ Josh Reynolds, charismatic Melbourne lads Crêpes warm things up with a set of drawling surf rock. The catchy as hell Stages of Fear sees an insatiable organ breakdown from Jackson Dahlenburg, while the pleasantly goofy Ain’t Horrible tickles the feet of a quickly growing crowd.
By the time the velvet curtain is pulled across for City Calm Down, the space in front of the stage has become heated to the point of Dante’s ninth circle. They’re here to launch the single Rabbit Run from their forthcoming debut LP, Inner Restless House. The four-piece are joined by an additional guitarist, as well as an atmosphere-enhancing saxophonist and trumpeter. The expanded personnel makes for a beautifully layered sound that is the outrageously sexy lovechild of White Lies and an ‘80s coming of age film. Led by Jack Bourke’s more than impressive baritone, City Calm Down burst through the sonic banks of the Northcote Social Club, audibly transporting us to a festival main stage.
The crowd is taken for a ride on the ‘80s retro wave courtesy of Pavement, which features well placed New Order-style synths. It’s followed by the deliciously Foals sounding couplet Burn Slow and Dare. When City Calm down blast out Until I Get By, to say the crowd is merely pleased would be a major understatement.
Pleasure and Consequence is introduced by keys magician Sam Mullaly as, “an oldie but a goodie” and it’s a personal highlight. The nostalgic sound throws you into a dreamlike world of rolling beats and banging synths that results in something not too far from an electronic wet dream.
BY ROSEMARY ANSTEAD
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Loved: Their faces.
Hated: The $12.50 falafel next door.
Drank: Voddy, lemonade and bitters.
