The night started with Yuuca opening the show with a small but fast growing crowd. They kicked things off with their cruisey Melt II and played their released songs such as ‘Into Deep’ and ‘Breathe’. The six band members (fronted by Emily and Mikayla on vocals and synths) all played an integral roll to their unique sound and kept the show lively and visually interesting. Despite the bass cutting out and not working, the bassist Zach blew a kiss as he walked of stage and the band played their last few songs ending in their next-to-be single ‘Nami’.
Shortly after Yuuca was the very active E^ST (aka Mel Bester). She was backed by a multi-instrumentalist who covered keys, guitar and Ableton. She was quick to play her new single ‘Get Money (feat. Mallrat)’ and closed on her huge song ‘The Alley’. Bester had incredible energy on stage (which she brings to every show) and had the almost full crowd dancing.
Japanese Wallpaper brought a four-piece band to the stage to close the night to a sold out Wooly Mammoth. Gab was joined by a drummer, a guitarist (who also plays for Holy Holy & Airling) and Gretta Ray on keys / backing vocals (who was just announced as a finalist for triple j unearthed high). The band played a mixture of new material as well as old favourites of the crowd. Some of the new songs were led very strongly by guitar which was interesting, and the band brought different arrangements to the songs everyone knew. The highlights of the show were Gab’s cover of Bjork as well as when Gretta jumped out from behind the keys and took the spotlight and sang ‘Breathe In’ as well as ‘Forces’. The band really played with dynamics with the drummer often starting a song with an almost electronic kit and overlaying the real snare and cymbals at the end of the song to give it a lift. Gab also sang for most of the set and he looked very comfortable doing so since his last two Brisbane shows that I caught. They finished with Gab’s collaboration with Jesse Davidson ‘Between Friends’ and called it a night.
Rating: ★★★★
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