Despite looking barely old enough to pass the 18+ restrictions of the evening, San Cisco performed with a natural ease. Received onstage by a full house would have been enough to intimidate the hell out of any rookie band, however the WA quartet showcased their indie-pop repertoire with poise and exuberance. Looking like a ’70s pop outfit, complete with printed floral shirts and wavy hair, San Cisco kicked into their set with Rocket Ship, a track defined by its fast tempo and solid backbeat.
The audience’s gaze immediately swept to female drummer and co-vocalist Scarlett Stevens, a lively little package that looked more like Tinkerbell than a percussionist. Looking like a little girl bashing on a toy drum kit, her dexterity and vigour were amazing, her tiny frame incongruent with the strength of her wrists. San Cisco played a lot of favourites, including Fred Astaire, Golden Revolver and Hunter, tracks which inevitably began to sound the same after a while, their stagnant melodies unable to really go anywhere beyond the “pop” paradigm.
Halfway through the set, the audience became less interested in the band and more excited about the inflatable beach ball that was being thrown around. The immaturity of the crowd was manifested in their shrieks and high pitched laughter as the beach ball, followed by an inflatable condom, circled the room. One could not help but feel sorry for San Cisco at this point, as the energy which had initially been for them was now directed elsewhere. Luckily for the band, this distraction didn’t last long as lead vocalist Jordi Davieson went ahead and asked if the crowd wanted to hear Scarlett sing, a saving grace which was immediately answered in the affirmative.
The crowd went nuts when they heard the opening guitar riffs of Awkward, the band’s most popular track to date. The call and response duet between Jordi and Scarlett was oh so cute, however the latter’s vocals sounded feeble in comparison with Jordi’s. Another crowd favourite was Beach, a mellow track which illustrated San Cisco’s competence in producing slower tempos. The bassist was an interesting guy to watch, as his fingers always seemed like they were floating over the chords, never once changing speed. He played effortlessly, moving gracefully across his instrument without appearing to really touch it. He remained inscrutable throughout the entire set, his indifference almost hinting at boredom.
In contrast, Scarlett’s blatant glee and enthusiasm made her the most exciting to watch. San Cisco concluded their set with Wild Things and No Friends, an encore which included the appearance of some random, sporadic dancers, most likely the support acts. A little too juvenile for the likings of some, San Cisco still put on a solid performance, their catchy pop tunes resonating amongst the crowd long after their exit.
BY DINA AMIN
LOVED: The drummer.
HATED: Getting hit in the head by an inflatable ribbed condom.
DRANK: Water, due to zero pennies.
