So, keeping in the spirit, I donned my best ‘socially conscious’ dancing shoes and headed off to Panthers.
After having to deal with some unusually bureaucratic reception staff, I made my way to the main auditorium in time to catch new Central Coast band Modern Joy. Their Brit-pop-inspired synth-driven pop seemed to get a few heads nodding, and they lurched into their set with gusto, clearly relishing the large stage.
I had never heard of Sydney outfit Cassette Kids going into this. However once they took to the stage I had the distinct feeling that I had indeed heard it all before. Their pastiche of Rogue Traders, Garbage and Melbourne chanteuse Paris Wells is certainly nothing new, but they delivered it with enough conviction and energy to get at least a row of people nodding their heads along the crowd barrier.
By the time End of Fashion came on, thankfully the crowd had grown somewhat, but still not to the proportions the ambitious promoters would have hoped. Playing a set that consisted mainly of songs from their new album, Book of Lies, it was good to finally see the crowd getting into the gig as much as the bands were. ‘Oh Yeah’ was a definite highlight, and hey, who cares if that riff is a blatant rip off of ‘Where is My Mind’ by the Pixies – at least it got the crowd singing along.
The night rounded off with Melbourne electro pop darlings Cut Copy who delivered a great set of memorable tunes, not least of which the standout ‘Lights and Music’ to an appreciative crowd. Albeit a crowd that still hadn’t managed to realise its full potential. If this set was a dry run for their upcoming Big Day Out and U.S tours, Cut Copy fans are in for some pretty good shows indeed.
Review by Stephen Bisset
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