MUM feat. Boys Boys Boys + Steering by Stars – World Bar (23.07.10)

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Another Friday night, another fantastic lineup at World Bar’s MUM! As is always the case, there was plenty of mayhem on multiple stages, so I wasn’t able to catch everyone, but here’s a short recap of the three bands I did see.

First up on tonight’s national affair were Adelaide’s Steering by Stars. Touring their impressive new album Cables, which we reviewed here, the band are showing themselves off as a force to be reckoned with. Largely an instrumental act – think a cross between The Besnard Lakes and Boards of Canada – I was damn impressed by their stage presence and their ability to glue their audience into their rich sounding set. Cue the xylophones, cue the beautiful melodies, cue the infectious beats of tracks like “Dissonance”. As it was remarked to me on this cold, rainy evening: “damn, Adelaide sure pulls out some great musicians” – indeed they do. Indeed they do. Keep your eyes and ears open for this fantastic band.

I headed upstairs next for We Say Bamboulee, one of the Blue Mountain’s up and coming party rock and roll bands. They’re a 3 piece with two keyboardists and a drummer and have a similar
vibe to Passion Pit – so if you’re a fan of this band, then look no
further than these guys! I last caught this band supporting Cloud Control at a sold out Annandale. Tonight, it was a far more intimate affair, but they still brought the fun to the small crowd who had shown up (including Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear!). Pushing through some early technical problems, they delivered a very entertaining set as the crowd sipped away at their teapot cocktails.

I ended my evening hanging out with Boys Boys Boys!, who we caught up with in Perth during our WAMi Festival coverage earlier this year. It was a far different vibe to what I experience in Perth – gone were the hordes of fans up the front, and there was no dancing prawn. Plus, it was 1am. Not the best conditions for one of the most entertaining bands I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in this fine country I’m afraid. The best way I can describe them to you is that they’ve taken the fun of songs like “Kids in America” and transformed them into their own brand of adorably entertaining 90s pop.

The crowd did get into it at times, but as they played when the venue was dying down, there was only so much they could do – a tale all too often told for the bands who get the later spot. But they gave it their all, showing off their bubbly personalities from start to finish, synchonising the night away, as though they didn’t have to go to Hobart in the morning (…they did)!

It’s a pity more didn’t come out to see these guys – I know there’s a great market for them in this city, and they deserve all the success that’s sure to come their way. It’s just good fun – and there’s not nearly enough of that in local music these days. And I’m sure all those who enjoyed their set from start to finish, along with me, will agree! Great show boys and girls! Let’s get you some more shows out here soon!

Header by Chantel Concei Photographyhttp://www.chantelconcei.com/
Check out Boys Boys Boys on their Myspace Page! http://www.myspace.com/boysboysboyz

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.