The now good-sized Gasometer was a good venue for The Pretty Littles to launch their single Manbaby; the joint was packed but not too packed by night’s end. But the loose rubber band that was the evening seemed destined to snap by the time a bunch of frontman Jack Parsons mates were onstage, half cut, attempting to harmonise.
A few hours earlier though, that same room was relaxing to the sounds of Yakini; Harry Croft and Liam Jones sauntering their way through a vocal-less set; their ambient electro/guitar and bass blend reminiscent at times of Radiohead (Kid A era) meets MGMT if they played winding, sonic landscapes.
Warrnambool lads Blackwood Jack then took it up a notch, absolutely belting out their Black Keys-inspired blues-rock. Ben Cue howled and stomped his way through the set with gusto, giving it absolutely everything despite the humble size of the crowd. Points too for probably being the only guy in the room wearing RM Williams that’ve actually seen dirt.
The Harlots followed shortly thereafter, Tom Pitts stalking the stage like a young (or old, for that matter) Nick Cave, with plenty of support coming from the rest of group; beaut organ playing, solid drumming and guitar helping punctuate Pitt’s frenetic and lyrical storytelling.
They did a great job getting the room primed for The Pretty Littles, who had plenty of fans eagerly singing along to the likes of Never Felt Worse, Small Towns, Noobie, and more recent winner in Tegan Victoria. Their cover of Paul Kelly’s Adelaide too continues to be a highlight.
Though the spotlight is usually on the charismatic Parsons, he happily lent it to an old mate to sing the forgotten track Not That Special. That act of kindness quickly led to a near free-for-all, as other mates boarded the stage, a bunch of them ‘singing’ into the spare microphone right of stage, which intelligently, the sound guy switched off. They did manage to play Manbaby before all it all got loopy, and played it well, the vocal assistance of Alice Hardie-Grant a nice touch on a track that is a great sign of things to come for their upcoming second LP.
BY GARRY WESTMORE
Loved: My first gig back at the revamped and bigger Gaso band room.
Hated: See below.
Drank: Half price pints of Globe beers.
