Project Description

DOPE LEMON
+ Golf Alpha Bravo
@ HQ Complex
15/8/19
(Live Review)

Reviewer: Deb Kloeden

Photos: Deb Kloeden

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DOPE LEMON, Angus Stone’s personal band project, is currently touring Australia following the release of his second studio album ‘Smooth Big Cat’. Best known for the highly popular brother/sister venture ANGUS AND JULIA STONE, Dope Lemon allows Stone to explore his own personal realms of music with full control of where that leads.

I arrived early at HQ Complex only to be greeted by a huge line of punters waiting to enter. This gave me an indication of how popular Dope Lemon has become. Support act GOLF ALPHA BRAVO were a perfect introduction with their chilled surf-soul vibe. Led by Gabriel Winterfield of Jagwar Ma fame, the trio displayed their versatile style. As their set progressed I became more impressed with their range of influences. They seemed to cover many genres, from Beatle-esque moments and psychedlia to prog-rock, but all with a laid-back surf-culture vibe. Winterfield is a master on lead guitar and their closing number was a real crescendo of sound.

HQ was packed by the time DOPE LEMON hit the stage. Playing as a five-piece band, Dope Lemon took us on a blissful dream, opening with ‘Stonecutters’ from his 2016 debut album ‘Honey Bones’. In fact Dope Lemon played more songs from ‘Honey Bones’ than he did from his more recent release ‘Smooth Big Cat’. This surprised me a little, but thrilled the crowd, as they were obviously familiar with the earlier songs.

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Every time I experience a Dope Lemon show I feel like I’m being transported back to Woodstock. The psychedelic, dreamy, blissed-out feel of his music is very hypnotic in quality. Song two, ‘How Many Times’ felt a bit like a mantra with repetitive riffs and beats spinning round and round.

The first song performed from the new album was the album’s opening track ‘Hey You’. Stone’s smokey, alluring voice took the crowd on a blissful journey, allowing them to get completely lost in the music. My favourite track from the new album is ‘Salt & Pepper’ which was performed later in the set. With obvious references to mind altering substances, Stone magically reproduces these dreamy feelings with his music. No drugs needed.

The set finished with ‘Home Soon’ from ‘Honey Bones’, a more rocky number, which definitely left the crowd asking for more. House lights went on and I thought it was all over, but the band returned for one more song, ‘Uptown Folks’, ending a wonderful night of music.

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Check out DEB KLOEDEN’s gallery
of this show HERE

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Smooth Big Cat
tracklisting:

1. Hey You
2. Salt & Pepper
3. Hey Little Baby
4. Lonely Boys Paradise
5. Give Me Honey
6. Dope & Smoke
7. Smooth Big Cat
8. The Midnight Slow
9. Mechanical Bull
10. Hey Man, Don’t Look At Me Like That 

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Check out DOPE LEMON below
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AMNPLIFY – DB