Major Label, a new singles record label owned by clothing chain General Pants Co. showcased three Sydney up-and-coming bands at The Oxford Arts Factory last night.
Four-piece rock outfit Underlights (Jack Friels – guitar/vocals, Darius Navidzadeh – guitar/vocals, Tom O’Dell – drums and Johnny Took – bass) were first on the bill and probably the most nervous. Jack Friels had a pleasing voice and a jaw that swung like a barn door. This quirky element emphasised each lyric in tracks Skip Stones and Love Me, proved they weren’t just school friends with a spare garage and lots of time. They were calculating in their milky guitar solos and idiosyncratic lyrics. Time was clearly of the essence as the boys were packing up before Darius had even finished singing.
Second to take the stage were indie/electro group Guineafowl. This six-piece band had style, and many an instrument! Vocalist, guitarist and namesake of the band Guineafowl was dressed in a studded suit jacket and the biggest quiff I have ever seen on a male. Other Guineafowl members Douglas S. Thompson (vocals/guitar), Ceci Herbert (keyboard/vocals/guitar), Lachlan McQueen (Bass), Yarren Hominh (guitar) and Matt Field (drums) were lined up along the front of the stage trying to catch a ray of limelight. The track Botanist began soft and quivering then climaxed to a strong more assertive tone. In Our Circles saw Ceci and Guineafowl sing in perfect melody where you couldn’t distinguish one voice from another. Record scratching sounds overlapped a long lasting peak as the singers gave each other knowing sideways glances. They were good and they knew it. The intelligently devised track, Mothr jumbled all structure so that peculiar instrumentals were confused for technical difficulties. Guineafowl could not have been one inch more passionate and ready to be scooped up and signed.
Indie foursome Made In Japan (James Cooney – drums/vocals, John Graham - lead guitar, Tom Davis – guitar and Pavie Vizintin – bass) were the last on the bill beginning their set with a catchy three minute interlude. James had his kit at the front of the stage and with loose wrists alternated from heavy alternative percussion to yielding vocals. The bands home-made logo was pasted in white tape on the bass drum and as John checked his set list from a post it note we were reminded of their embryonic state. Tracks Pairs, Invertuoso and Light Shadows sounded like Incubus but with progressive punk elements thrown in.
1 comment:
Absolutely diggin' Made in Japan!
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