Live Review - 2015 BIGSOUND

DAY 1

Woodes

Melbourne based producer and singer Elle Graham, better known as Woodes, serenaded the modest crowd gathered for the opening set at The Brightside’s roomy Outdoor Stage. Sporting a beautiful white flowing cape, the 23-year-old delivered a stunning set of soft electronica. Her layering of recorded mixed with live soaring vocals in Byron was just one of the many “wow” moments throughout her set. The set truly showcased her angelic vocal range and her unique incorporation of live vibraphone that looked giant stretched out in front of her petite frame.

Timberwolf

One of the most engaging sets of the night belonged to Adelaide’s Timberwolf, moniker for 24 year-old Christopher Panousakis. Backed by his band, which featured the liveliest bassist at BIGSOUND, Timberwolf delivered a set full of absorbing crescendos and a powerful and passionate vocal performance that would have even sent goose bumps through Matt Corby. Featuring spot on harmonies, a few rocking guitar solos, and a Fleetwood Mac cover, Timberwolf’s set was one of the best of the Wednesday night program.

Babaganouj

Opening with fan favourite Bluff the Brisbane four-piece immediately hushed the sizeable crowd in The Elephant’s beer garden. For half an hour Babaganouj transported all listening back to the best parts of the 90’s through their infamous garage pop-rock. Embracing their heavier than usual sound the crowd bopped and sung along without needing encouragement. Recent single Can’t Stop was the highlight, but overall the set was as messy and charming as their lead guitarist Charles’ hair.

HOLY HOLY

Being one of the biggest names on the BIGSOUND lineup, HOLY HOLY walked on stage to a hero’s reception. Without skipping a beat they launched into History, instantly transfixing the capacity crowd and turning them into one swaying sweaty mob. A sublime drum solo followed in the energetic ballad If I Were You, receiving a deafening applause from the overjoyed crowd. The 5-piece sounded amazing as they tore through their set full of beautiful guitar melodies, long held “oohs”, and the occasional drunken member of the crowd attempting to become the 6th member of the alt-rock outfit. The set finished on their breakthrough single You Cannot Call for Love Like a Dog, causing everyone in the crowd to either sing along, head-bang, pull out an air guitar, or a combo of all three.

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Day 2

I Know Leopard

Charged with opening The Zoo were Sydneysiders I Know Leopard. With a sound not too dissimilar to Snakadaktal the 5-piece’s brand of dream pop kept the crowd swaying and happily glued to the stage. Their upbeat number Close My Eyes saw keyboardist Jenny McCullagh instead swap to a violin, adding a cool folky element to their sound. The set ended on a high with single Perfect Picture, with McCullagh’s violin beautifully embellishing the song’s hook whilst she effortlessly partook in a three-way harmony during the song’s bridge.

Hey Geronimo

Brisbane’s Hey Geronimo exploded into their set opening with the equal parts euphoric and zany single Laser Gun Show. From the first chorus of Laser Gun Show to the last strum of the set, the crowd was hooked on what surely was the cheeriest set of BIGSOUND. Their non-sensical love songs and boppy melodies created an infectiously joyful vibe no one in the crowd could, or wanted to, escape. The harmonies between frontman Pete Kilroy and keyboardist Pluto Jonze were fantastic and were only topped by some epic psych-rock breakdowns that few saw coming.

The Belligerents

The Winn stage quickly filled to capacity with both young and old, all itching to hear one of Brisbane’s hottest bands of the year The Belligerents. The five-piece dropped a set full of groovy rock mixed with the right amount of incoherent psychedelic babblings and fuzz-drenched solos. The pick of the set was the silky psych trip Voices. But the real highlight was the highly creative interpretive dancing from frontman Lewis Stephenson, who channelled some classic Peter Garrett moves. The psych rockers lived up to their hype and delivered one of the best sets of the night.

Tired Lion

Perth’s brightest new export Tired Lion wrapped up night two at the Triple J Unearthed Stage. Playing to the half of BIGSOUND not seeing Gang of Youths, who were on at the same time at The Zoo, the Perth rockers put on a garage rock master class. Fronted by pocket rocket Sophie Hopes, the four-piece smashed out a set full of, what they called, “punk bangers”, providing plenty of head banging fodder for the distortion hungry crowd. The highlight of the set was the crowd interaction and vocals of Hopes. In some songs her voice stole the spotlight by delivering surprisingly soft and delicate tones, almost as if she was singing a lullaby rather than a punk banger. Also in light of R U OK? Day she dedicated several songs to those “who aren’t doing OK” and revealed a few songs are about her “being in a dark place”. Even ongoing issues with leads didn’t dull Tired Lion’s roar, with their closing song I Don’t Think You Like Me invoking a sizeable mosh and screams for “just one more!” as they moved to walk off stage.

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