Having not yet recovered from the penetrating and enigmatic gaze of The Preatures’ vocalist Isabella Manfred and her sexually-charged chemistry with co-vocalist and guitarist Gideon Bensen, Hungry Kids Of Hungary were received on stage by an energised crowd. The five-piece Brisbane band kicked into What In The World, the opening track of their sophomore album, You’re A Shadow. The boys were flawless, showcasing their indie-pop tracks in a tight and controlled performance. The melting harmonies of Kane Mazlin and Dean McGrath were emotive and perfectly synchronised, especially on tracks like When Yesterday’s Gone, Scattered Diamonds, The Vacationer and Coming Around.
As an electric piano nut, it was impossible not to be swayed and seduced by Mazlin’s smooth instrumentation. His playing was effortless and light, providing a solid grounding to the pop styles of the band. Heavier songs like Sharp Shooter and Twin Cities validated the group’s competence in producing edgier, hard rock. Somewhere between Last Dinosaurs and Vampire Weekend, the boys were dynamic, unified and confident. Towards the final half of the performance, Dean, Kane and Alex exited the stage, leaving behind bass guitarist Ben Dalton and drummer Ryan Strathie. While the former three guys took an intermission, probably loading up on minerals and toilet breaks, Ben and Ryan showcased their skills to an eager and curious crowd. Exploding into a heavy percussion and bass solo, Ben and Ryan shone, looping in and out of each other’s beats, both complementing and challenging one another. The powerhouse two-way solo was reminiscent of the harmonious relationship between The Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger and organist Ray Manzarek, but with different instruments.
Towards the end of the solo, the remaining members of Hungry Kids of Hungary re-entered the stage and broke into Wristwatch, one of the bigger tracks of their debut album. It was a perfect prelude and a smooth transition into one of their heavier songs.
A few more favourite tracks followed and then it was time for the boys to bid farewell. However, it wasn’t long before the wild calls and repetitious chanting of the crowd brought them back onstage. They opened their encore with a sincere rendition of Tame Impala’s Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, a successful homage to the Australian band that was filled with psychedelic instrumentation and sombre harmonies. The boys then brought their support acts back on stage, concluding with a crowd favourite, Let You Down. A momentous moment and a wonderful way to end the night: Hungry Kids Of Hungary, The Preatures and Them Swoops filled the stage with exuberance and uncontrollable limbs. The stage turned into a dance floor, with random guest appearances from the audience itself. The crowd and the bands become one single entity, as everybody intertwined and paid tribute to Hungry Kids Of Hungary.
BY DINA AMIN
LOVED: The powerful blues/rock solos of Ben Dalton and Ryan Strathie.
HATED: The ridiculous height of the guy standing in front of me.
DRANK: Vodka and pineapple juice.
