Winter at the Tote, it’s like Christmas in England as punters convene around the front bar and gently toast themselves by the fire. On this particular night they were treated to four distinctly different bands, all meandering their way through Australia’s underground music scene, achieving plenty of success.
Hot Topic had the job of opening the night, newcomers to the stage they came across nervous. Their slow burning alt-pop music is at first a little jarring as each band member finds their place within the music. The band soldiers on through the early shivers, growing in confidence with each passing song and in the end delivers the crowd some really clever songs brimming with potential. Best to get in on this early.
The band room is nearing capacity and so it should, lineups like this are deserving of a strong audience. Thigh Master are a hardworking band completely at ease with themselves. They have a reputation as Brisbane’s seminal underground act and they quickly consolidate this. Immediately impressive, their jovial take on post punk rock elevates the atmosphere as they churn through their set. They turn from a bratty, snot-nosed punk song to something approaching a meaningful thought in a quick turn, showing diversity in a genre that can often feel boxed in.
Power were unquestionably good. To the unfamiliar, the beginning of their set may come across as the kind of uncultured pub rock that stopped being interesting years ago, but about half a song in and the audience couldn’t contain themselves. Incredibly electric, they just hit you like a freight train. There’s no pretensions about them, it’s just pure and unhinged.
Terry are a band that delivers on all the hype and praise that’s been heaped on them from music blogs around the globe. They have some truly great songs, from Hot Heads with its beachy jangle, the commanding punk stomp of Don’t Say Sorry and the indie jive that is Talk About Terry. All these songs are played to an audience that feels like they’re witnessing an intimate get together of friends jamming in the garage. Their confidence compels, it’s nigh on impossible to dislike them. Terry end up playing all their songs but the crowd near the front isn’t finished and demand more. “Go home, we’re out of songs,” they say but the audience isn’t having any of that, so the band goes on, playing an encore to a sold out Tote.
It was a special moment; the culmination of what’s been a hugely exciting first year or so for this fine band. Fans can only hope that they continue on in this vain, having already released two 7” singles and an album, there’s little doubt it’ll be too long before we hear from them again.
Judging by tonight’s attendees, they can hardly wait for it.
BY ALEX PINK
LOVED: The chicken burger, bands were obviously great, but fuck me dead, that chicken burger.
HATED: That I got full and couldn’t stomach another chicken burger.
DRANK: Beer.
