Live Review: Pesci’s Clubnight @ The Foundry (Ecca Vandal, WAAX, MKO)

Pesci’s Clubnight is a brand new live music night dedicated to providing the best experience for both performers and punters. Taking residency at Brisbane’s hottest new re-opened venue The Foundry, the clubnight has the potential be a popular fixture in the Valley’s live music scene. Ecca Vandal headlined the debut clubnight supported by Brisbane bands MKO & WAAX.

I arrive at The Foundry just before the opening act is due to take the stage. I join the dozen people milling around close to the stage, eagerly awaiting Hannah Macklin, aka MKO, to take the stage. MKO and her band quietly take their places and launch into their opening song. The deep grooving synth seemingly takes hold of MKO as her limbs begin moving like a slithering snake as her vocals soar through the venue. This hypnotic sound & movement brings forth the other dozen people, previously savouring their first beer on the outside verandah, into the stage room. Most of them would immediately agree the trek was worth it as MKO delivers song after song highlighting her amazing vocal abilities complimented by progressive (and very groovy) Rhythm & Blues.

This unique take on RnB fosters a dark pulsating atmosphere, which comes to a head during the sublime hip-hop infused song Daffodils, causing everyone to mimic her slithering-like limbs. The dark atmosphere is temporarily lifted as MKO bounce through an upbeat number unofficially titled Don’t Lose Your Imagination. We’re then plunged straight back into the dark groove with Light Has No Mass, a song about good verses evil. The ‘evil’ bass progression is just heavy enough to encourage the more hardened audience members to dance. After a short but sweet thank you to the audience MKO finish on a playful RnB tune that again highlights her amazing vocal talent.

As everyone is enjoying their bevvie of choice WAAX subtly climb on stage and complete their final sound check. As if this was a secret call The Foundry’s stage room begins to fill. It’s clear to see which act most of tonight’s crowd is here for… Unlike the beginning to MKO’s set, the room is nearly completely full by the time WAAX return 10 minutes later to a rockstar-like reception. Frontwoman Marie DeVita, or ‘Maz’, hits a wobbling chord on her keyboard and the set, as well as the crowd, goes off. Maz’s stage persona steadily takes her over before, like an impatient angry teenager, she ignores the audience’s applause and command’s the band to launch into single Wisdom Teeth. Maz becomes the centre of attention as she stumbles and screeches cross-eyed through their set. Coming off their appearance at the recent Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival, WAAX are on fire. The crowd laps every punk-rock banger played and every profanity spat by Maz. With a few songs left the five-piece break out a cover of Inhaler by Foals, getting anyone who wasn’t moving before now part of a venue-encompassing mosh. The band finish the set with their most recent single I for an Eye, which sees Maz and those closest to her lose their collective shit.

Strange apocalyptic percussion drags everyone in from the beer garden/veranda as Ecca’s band take the stand. After a brief electro-garage-rock inspired opening jam the vandal of the hour takes the stage to a slightly subdued reception, suggesting that WAAX were the main event tonight. Not deterred, the South African born and Melbourne raised pocket rocket launches her whole body into the set. Sporting what appeared to be a rainbow totem pole tracksuit Ecca becomes a colourful blur on stage as she jumps across the stage singing with a tinge of venom. After the last distortion-soaked chord of her second song Ecca gives a hearty welcome to the now near capacity crowd, who learns tonight’s her first “proper” Brisbane show. She then introduces the next song White Flag, her hit single released just over a year ago. As if smacked out of a trance the whole crowd begins bouncing as one to the opening heavy synth riff. During the chorus of White Flag Ecca shares the mic with Maz from WAAX (a self proclaimed “EV fan girl”), spurring the mosh to go even wilder. The second cover of the night follows White Flag, with Ecca’s band smoothly transitioning into Missy Elliott’s Get Ur Freak On. It goes down an absolute treat as everyone’s eyes try to follow the rainbow blur of Ecca as she spits through Missy’s lyrics.

Ecca rolls through the rest of her set with confidence and swagger, keeping the crowd in the palm of her hand. Her sound of electronic punk rock infused with the occasional Caribbean themes keeps everyone bouncing, head banging, or both. The set finishes with a massive thank you to the crowd and the organisers of the night before finishing with her new single, and pick of the set, Father Hu$$la.

The performances from all three bands headlining the debut of Pesci’s Clubnight were full fantastic and full of energy. However, the overall atmosphere of the venue didn’t lend itself to a clubnight, rather a similar atmosphere you’d experience at any standard live music venue. The lack of DJ’s between the bands meant you could easily hear your conversations, but that doesn’t allow or foster a club or party vibe. The event has the potential be a popular fixture in the Valley’s live music scene. I’m sure with a capacity crowd a unique clubnight atmosphere will happen, especially as the stage allows the audience within touching distance of the performers.

#Pescis #EccaVandal #WAAX