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Two months ago, Perth was blessed with a brand new centrally located live music venue dedicated to supporting and promoting a diverse range of original music; The Sewing Room.  A crowd of music lovers with a penchant for heavy, genre bending tunes filled the grungy, underground venue. The DJ clearly understood tonight’s target audience, entertaining the crowd with the likes of Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Twelve Foot Ninja and Sleepmakeswaves in between the bands sets.

Perth music scene youngsters Yomi Ship did a phenomenal job of easing gig goers into the night with their instrumental psychedelic progressive rock, however the energy of the room immediately intensified the minute Statues walked on stage. Vocalist Alex Shom declared that they were here to bring an experience, not a show, and boy did they deliver! Things went from 0 to 100 instantaneously. Gig goers had difficulty tracking which band members were where at any given time as they tore through hardcore, progressive metal. Each band member (bar the drummer) did not limit themselves to the stage, making use of the whole room, flailing around and getting in people’s faces (literally!).

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Statues photo by Karen Lowe

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Looks of confusion flashed across the venue as the theme song for 80’s cartoon The Trap Door resonated through the speakers. Soon four men shimmied on stage and unleashed Jazz, funk, pop, rock tunes which left jaws on the floor. If you asked everyone in attendance to describe their favourite aspect of the set, it is very likely you would receive many different answers. Those familiar with The Mighty Boosh might say the unexpected crimp that occurred mid set. All would unanimously agree that Osaka Punch’s live performance is a force to be reckoned with. While crowd may have initially been dubious, by the end of the set front man Jack ‘Muzak’ Venables had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands. Cue mad dash to the merch desk.

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Jack ‘Muzak’ Venables  of Osaka Punch- Photo by Karen Lowe

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Following that performance was going to be a difficult task! If any band is up to the challenge, it would be Voyager. Their passion and energy kept the crowd moshing from start to finish; Satisfying all by including a variety of songs from their back catalogue. The band clearly have fun with each other up on stage, case in point, Danny Estrin and Alex Canion engaged in a game of footsie during I Am The Revolution. While it may be fun and games on stage, Voyager take their music very seriously and they work very well together to hit every note of their electro, progressive, pop metal with precision. While the band opted not to leave the stage for an encore, Estrin Jested “You can still twist my arm a bit” which was met with cheers. With that, they closed with The Meaning of I.

If people continue to support the venues who seek to support and nurture live original music, Perth’s music scene has a bright future ahead. Be sure to check out each and every one of these bands the next time they visit your neck of the woods.

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VOYAGER- Photo by Karen Lowe

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Check out Karen Lowe’s gallery of this show HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB