The psychedelic projectors and joyously-tacky flashing Squidfinger billboards set a truely eerie atmosphere for this particular event, the CD launch of Squidfinger’s debut disco disc. And may I add that The Seaview is a fantastic summer sauna for such scintillating silliness!
In a tempting teaser, those sex machines of unbridled ‘thrash cabaret’, Circus Murders, thrust forth their loins in celebration of the occasion. Forever messing with people’s minds and dance styles, the Murders mellee offered heaps of new material in what I expect will be a long summer of Fremantle gigs and jigs.
Seafood, as part of the new set, is indicative of the new Circus Murders stuff which is getting increasingly crazier with all four members now wired up for multiple vocal bits. The crowd, standing at the edge of the flashing dancefloor, soon threw away any chance of picking the complex rhythms and just went flailing onto the floor in a typically-Freo Bacchanalian frenzy.
Apocalypse Wow, Frantic and the ‘ol faves from the West Street CD put the glitz on the occasion, soon to be followed by the sequinned glam of the main event, Squidfinger’s saucy 70s spectacular – grand entrance and all.
I think I have an idea about those scenes on Countdown now, where the youth of yesteryear (with bad hair) squealed and strutted on the TV studio set to the succulent soundz of Molly’s guests. Yep, Squidfinger took this horrendous fashion and fusion and launched it straight back into the MTV generation’s consciousness, forcing even the most dishevelled bogan to emerge from a dark corner to stomp and grind. Very eerie.
As the drop sheet in front of the band fell, the unrelenting funk bass kicked in to the retro-approval of all present. Punctuated by Spanish bullfighting tunes (Conquistador) and a sickening, almost-funny Black Sabbath ‘classic’ (Paranoid), the Squiddies were vying for both dancing and humour points from the masses. Happily, they got both from the sisters and brothers in the house (who had better watch out or they will turn out like their parents).
Squidfinger really do have a monumental sound, but then again I am a helpless sucker for overwhelming bass rhythms and funk flirtations. Ace.
Adam Connors
