An early evening gig at The Tote felt like the ideal end to a scorching Golden Plains weekend, regardless of whether you had camped out at Meredith or kept away from the heat in Melbourne town. Free snags were an early lure, but the quality of the supports for Wild Nothing’s debut sideshow in Melbourne were enough to get me a spot near a fan in the appealingly dingy band-room soon after the doors opened.
New Zealand’s Popstrangers played to just a handful of punters and put on a great set that showcased their fine new album, Antipodes. The crowd started shuffling in, and the mercury rose further, by the time Bushwalking took to the stage. This three-piece are one of those bands that you appreciate on a whole new level when you see them play live, with their striking dual vocals complimented by some amazing guitar-work from Kes. Given the gentler nature of the band they were supporting, it was a shame that some of their slower, softer numbers (Hair, Bath Sex) weren’t added to the mix.
The room fills for Wild Nothing and it’s clear that the heat is making this a not entirely comfortable experience, but it does little to dampen a wonderful live show. If anything, it adds to a raw, more stripped-back show that contrasts with the softer, more layered recorded material. The focus is on new album Nocturne, with a handful of Gemini songs and EP track Golden Haze scattered throughout. It’s a near-faultless set from a band that haven’t always fired on all cylinders on stage; I saw them in New York a couple of years ago and they were nowhere near as good then as they were tonight. The surprise peak, for me at least, was Paradise, a track I had never fully warmed to until I heard it played live in a room full of happy, sweaty people. An encore felt unlikely due to everyone’s exhaustion, but Jack Tatum was thankfully reminded about the band’s cover of The Go-Betweens classic Head Full Of Steam. It was well worth sticking around for.
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
LOVED: The bands pushing on through the heat
HATED: Dripping with sweat
DRANK: Liquid refreshments
