The Gaso was a comforting sight. Punters were first greeted by the smell of woodfire smoke and mulled wine, while those who made their way to the upstairs bandroom had their eardrums serenaded by an eclectic assortment of experimental pop and indietronica.
The event was a part of OXJAM. Technically running throughout August, a few bands wanted to get in on the charitable action early. As a part of OXJAM, all profits from the evening went directly to support the efforts of Oxfam. Nothing wrong with having a reason to feel good while you jam out.
SELKI opened the evening. Her performance was minimal in instrumentation and body, and she alternated between guitar and keyboard to accompany her ethereal vocals. Seemingly working with new equipment, there was an undeniable lack of polish to SELKI’s performance. Despite this, she managed to keep the audience captivated throughout. Maybe it was her quirky melodic style or her vest/onesie combo. Maybe it was her pitch-dropped rap. Or maybe it was the fact that SELKI has figured out her own style and is rolling with it.
In the middle slot was Peachnoise, presenting their own brand of schizophrenic, psychedelic pop. Peachnoise’s pop foundation was a relatable anchor while they utilised a variety of interesting effects and unexpected melodies. While tracks like Crush retained a sense of purpose, Peachnoise’s songs occasionally lacked some cohesion. Even so, they remained engaging due to the impressive vigour and energy of their performance.
Closing the night’s festivities were TEEM, the two-piece project of guitarist/vocalists Miller Rouse and Michael Bones. TEEM immediately presented an aura of originality, though they’re not without comparison. Their harmonisation on twin guitars was reminiscent of Ratatat, their progression of musical ideas and musical inventiveness brought Battles to mind, while Bonesy’s vocals occasionally hinted at the passion and depth of Jeff Buckley. Add a healthy dose of chaos to the mix and you have an idea of TEEM’s sound.
They stood out as a quality act, though this goes beyond their musical originality. Part of TEEM’s appeal came from their instrumental proficiency, emerging in an understated complexity that permeated the entirety of their set. Another part of TEEM’s appeal was tied to their comfort on and suitability to the stage, manifesting in an abundance of quality banter between the duo.
TEEM was able to transform the stage from an inaccessible space of performance into an extension of a friend’s living room – a space where you could kick back and simply enjoy good music.
Highlight: The combination of feminine aesthetic and masculine voice in SELKI’s pitch-dropped rap was a winner.
Lowlight: Whether you view the high proportion of ex-Canberran attendees as a highlight or lowlight really depends on your perspective.
Crowd favourite: TEEM’s promising stand-up comedy routine interspersed with music.
