First to jump onstage was Lost Talk. Fierce frontwoman Amy immediately commanded attention with screamed vocals radiating sass, while the band upped the ante with a high intensity set.
Next was Perth alternative outfit Childsaint, who showcased their gritty garage rock with plenty of passion, their melancholic lyrics reaching out to everybody in the room. Local garage rockers The Shabbab exploded onto the stage with manic energy, vocalist Shuki Rosenboim clad in unicorn pants as he frantically jumped and writhed both on stage and off.
Last but not least, it was time for Perth garage legends Foam. Frontman Joel Martin deep, gritty vocals were contrasted by Harley Barnaby’s slicing guitar streaks and drummer Jackson Hawdon assaulting the drums with brute force.
Foam’s sound was compelling – they would build up the anticipation with steady, climbing riffs, and then all of a sudden unleash mayhem. It was like being on a rollercoaster full of twists and turns, and it was exhilarating. Their sound is reminiscent the ‘90s grunge movement, and brings back the nostalgia, angst and non-conformity of the era.
Foam played mostly from their debut album Coping Mechanisms. In particular, the crowd lost their marbles for We Don’t Live In The USA – a song filled to the brim with frenzied energy as Martin, Barnaby and Hawdon thrashed around on stage.
There was also Eat Your Family, another fun song kick-started with Martin’s brooding vocals, heightened by cruising surf rock feels. There was a playful feel to the track that captured the crowd’s attention, allowing Foam to let loose and not give a shit.
Get On Board had a free-spirited feel with throbbing bass and riffs that elicited some serious headbanging from the audience. Martin’s vocals added the cherry on top of a wonderfully sludgy, rock-heavy set.
By Christine Tsimbis
Highlight: Eat Your Family.
Lowlight: Nothing.
Crowd Favourite: We Don’t Live In The USA.
