After a fruitful day weeding the front lawn while listening to the footy on the tranny, what better way is there to cap off a bright, sunny day than a Sunday session.
Heeding the call, the pretty young people filed in as F.U.L.L’s two front men, in matching army pants, again re-ignited the funk rebellion. Quite proficient in their funk metal approach, with a passing nod to the recently departed Manic Finster, their jumping vibe was perfectly suited to the Sunday sundowner crew. All concerned were quite willing to soak up F.U.L.L’s obvious influences and let their rookie exuberance continue to develop for future Sunday session reference.
From rookie to pro though, Atmosfear had corporate cock-rock party band written all over their copyrighted banner, aircraft-display amps and Glam hairdos. With a roll-call of cover band personnel, complete with the ever-telling array of effects pedals, the three piece Atmosfear perhaps hope to straddle glam and grunge with great monetary rewards on the 21st birthday circuit. With a couple of their melodies catching my ear, as well as their unthinking ability to revisit the jukebox’s selection in the corner at will, they will probably do well out of it.
But the crowd seemed to be here for Aquarium and the reasons were obvious: here were a trio who were eclectic, entertaining in their ungainly falling-off-the-stage antics and genuinely inventive. Moving between skanking ragga, sarcastic ‘lurve’ ballads (like the muddy crooning of their version of Yazoo’s Only You) and more of that coastal funk and thrash which seems to have emerged over the last few years, Aquarium seem to be building a well-founded following.
Songs such as See You in Hell, suitably introduced by knobbly-kneed guitarist/ vocalist Jason Barrat-Hill/Brad Christiansen/Mike Hoar in his “Hiya peoples!” infectious grin, were characteristic of Aquarium’s approach to twist and jump between moods and styles. They had the knack of taking their sarcasm and frivolity to their eager audience who similarly returned the favour with a’stomping feet on floor. One to watch, at least in the Sunday session set, because a little Sunday jig is never a bad thing.
Adam Connors
