Metronomy, Circa Waves @ The Forum Theatre, Melbourne (25/07/2014)
The Forum was already coloured a blue hue and bustling with noise before Circa Waves took to the stage. Most of the booths were full of spectators, while the floor hadn’t filled up quite yet. But there were plenty waiting around to fill the gaps.
Circa Waves jumped straight into their set with energetic number Young Chasers, which is straight off their new self-titled EP. Stopping for a few thank you’s between songs they flew through each track with breeze, looking like they felt comfortable on stage. All members were jumping around and dancing with their instruments. Not as badly as the lady in red go go boots who needed a good 2-3 meters distance so you didn’t get cleaned up in her wrath. Circa Waves’ iconic songs, Good For Me and Stuck In My Teeth, were played with a lot of energy. There was nothing but beachy track after beachy track, leaving the crowd toe tapping and feeling good vibes. The band had already pulled in quite a crowd by then thanks to their performance. “This is a flipping great city. You’re welcome,” lead singer, Keiran Shuddall, said. He explained that it was their first time in Australia. Everyone cheered for the Liverpool band for coming down. The band kept playing more songs that had jangly guitars and summer vibes even though it’s winter in Melbourne. My Love was enjoyed by many in the crowd and Get Away finished the set. Circa Waves definitely did themselves justice for their first time in Australia. They exited the stage to clapping and whopping from the crowd. |
After a half an hour waiting period, the time finally arrived for the audience to see the band everyone had been waiting for. Metronomy took to the stage through the mist and positioned themselves in front of the gigantic pink cloud back drops, remarkably similar to their album cover art for latest released album, Love Letters. The floor of The Forum was completely full and everyone was ready for their ears to be met with Metronomy’s psychedelic pop. The band started off with Monstrous, already the crowd were screaming for the first song to be played. Bodies swayed to the synths and lead singer Joseph Mount's vocals.
The clouds changed between pink, purple and blue colours and the band kicked on into Month Of Sundays. The song had an incredible guitar solo and everyone was becoming more energetic in the crowd. Everyone could tell this was going to be one of The Forum’s amazing lighting shows. The audience was definitely not disappointed.
When The Look started to play with its catchy electronic keyboard sound, everyone was screaming. This was definitely the crowd favourite for the night. The entire crowd was dancing, not the side to side kind, the dancing that involved space. Looking from the outside it would have looked like a slowmo death pit at Soundwave. The song was played perfectly and keyboardist, Oscar Cash, pretended to turn on lights whilst ascending notes on the keyboard, which obviously took some practice with the techies at The Forum.
She Wants was next, which had the jangly guitar and funky bass that Metronomy has perfected over the years. Afterwards, Boy Racers played which was a good four minutes of dance music while Mount had a rest off stage.
Call Me slowed down the set, while Holiday’s guitar twangs and experimental sounds would have confused any new Metronomy listeners. Radio Ladio was another crowd favourite with its catchy sound and ear splitting synths. By this time, everyone had noticed bassist, Olugbenga Adelekan, who seemed to be one of the most excitable bassists anyone had ever seen. No one could have wiped the smile off of his face.
Love Letters, title track of their latest album, was upbeat and the whole band sung along. By then, most of the people lounging at the back of The Forum in cushioned seats had got up and piled up at the back of the floor trying to get closer to the performance. Drums and vocalist, Anna Prior, took control of the next song in Everything Goes My Way. I’m Aqaurius and Reservoir followed, the band had such a presence on stage, it was a little bit mesmerising. It’s not surprising that there wasn’t a boring moment in the performance.
Side 2 from their 2008 track, Nights Out, was another dance filler for the crowd. Corinne and The Upsetter slowed the set down a little, which was good for the exhausted dancing audience. Mount stopped to thank the crowd for coming out and also thanked the amazing light technicians. They followed by covering Box Codax’s Naked Smile.
The music picked up again when another big Metronomy hit, The Bay, started. The iconic synth sound started and everyone was yelling and singing along. The background had changed to a rainbow and was reflecting over The Forum’s amphitheatre like stage. People were screaming for an encore before they have fully left the stage. As the ground shook, it was obvious to everyone that the punters wanted more. Metronomy were glad to give it.
Mount came on to play Some Written, he played half the song before the other members trickled back on stage, picked up their instruments and joined in. Goodie but an oldie, Heartbreaker, had everyone jumping again. But not as crazy as when everyone went when they heard the last song. With one crowd dweller screaming, “I fucking love this song!”, when he heard the guitar. The ear splitting song could be described nothing shorter than absolutely hectic. People were bashing into each other to You Could Easily Have Me, a song from one of their first albums released in 2006, Pip Paine (Pay The £5000 You Owe).
With the ear bashing done and psychedelic funky pop ringing in their ears, the punters slowly left The Forum Theatre blessing the stars that they went to the show.
Elizabeth Alderslade
The clouds changed between pink, purple and blue colours and the band kicked on into Month Of Sundays. The song had an incredible guitar solo and everyone was becoming more energetic in the crowd. Everyone could tell this was going to be one of The Forum’s amazing lighting shows. The audience was definitely not disappointed.
When The Look started to play with its catchy electronic keyboard sound, everyone was screaming. This was definitely the crowd favourite for the night. The entire crowd was dancing, not the side to side kind, the dancing that involved space. Looking from the outside it would have looked like a slowmo death pit at Soundwave. The song was played perfectly and keyboardist, Oscar Cash, pretended to turn on lights whilst ascending notes on the keyboard, which obviously took some practice with the techies at The Forum.
She Wants was next, which had the jangly guitar and funky bass that Metronomy has perfected over the years. Afterwards, Boy Racers played which was a good four minutes of dance music while Mount had a rest off stage.
Call Me slowed down the set, while Holiday’s guitar twangs and experimental sounds would have confused any new Metronomy listeners. Radio Ladio was another crowd favourite with its catchy sound and ear splitting synths. By this time, everyone had noticed bassist, Olugbenga Adelekan, who seemed to be one of the most excitable bassists anyone had ever seen. No one could have wiped the smile off of his face.
Love Letters, title track of their latest album, was upbeat and the whole band sung along. By then, most of the people lounging at the back of The Forum in cushioned seats had got up and piled up at the back of the floor trying to get closer to the performance. Drums and vocalist, Anna Prior, took control of the next song in Everything Goes My Way. I’m Aqaurius and Reservoir followed, the band had such a presence on stage, it was a little bit mesmerising. It’s not surprising that there wasn’t a boring moment in the performance.
Side 2 from their 2008 track, Nights Out, was another dance filler for the crowd. Corinne and The Upsetter slowed the set down a little, which was good for the exhausted dancing audience. Mount stopped to thank the crowd for coming out and also thanked the amazing light technicians. They followed by covering Box Codax’s Naked Smile.
The music picked up again when another big Metronomy hit, The Bay, started. The iconic synth sound started and everyone was yelling and singing along. The background had changed to a rainbow and was reflecting over The Forum’s amphitheatre like stage. People were screaming for an encore before they have fully left the stage. As the ground shook, it was obvious to everyone that the punters wanted more. Metronomy were glad to give it.
Mount came on to play Some Written, he played half the song before the other members trickled back on stage, picked up their instruments and joined in. Goodie but an oldie, Heartbreaker, had everyone jumping again. But not as crazy as when everyone went when they heard the last song. With one crowd dweller screaming, “I fucking love this song!”, when he heard the guitar. The ear splitting song could be described nothing shorter than absolutely hectic. People were bashing into each other to You Could Easily Have Me, a song from one of their first albums released in 2006, Pip Paine (Pay The £5000 You Owe).
With the ear bashing done and psychedelic funky pop ringing in their ears, the punters slowly left The Forum Theatre blessing the stars that they went to the show.
Elizabeth Alderslade