Yours and Owls 2016- Gig Review

To kick off October with a bang, Yours and Owls threw an under 18 only party packed with great artists and bands. There was great times, intense times and straight-up weird times.

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James Crooks

After doors opened at about 12:10- just a little bit later than predicted, the first up on the bill was James Crooks, he filled is set with the characteristic electronic pop tunes that he's known for amongst his admittedly very small following. Apart from Naturally (Paige IV was featured on this one- well worth a listen), his set felt like it may have lacked something. There is a lot to be said for someone who produces most of their songs themselves, however a lot of his songs progressed in a way that didn't feel naturally or flowing at all. A strong point of his songs is the way that he mixes lots of different sounds together and stitches them together smoothly. He shows a lot of promise and dedication and has the power to become big. It's going to be very interesting to see where he goes.

Listen to- Naturally with Paige IV

Bec Sandridge

*Cue me absolutely losing it* Bec was one of the most phenomenal live acts this world has seen. As a recording artist, she consistently puts out high-quality, interesting tracks (described by the woman herself as "spaghetti disco pop") that draw inspiration from 80s pop packed with western guitar and discotheque beats. Her vocals hold a sea of words and emotions in a way that very few voices do in the music industry. After meeting her and having a little chat I have made the executive decision that she is the sweetest person inhabiting this earth. Period.

Listen to- Everything is good! Start with High Tide, In The Fog In The Flame, Stones, You're a Fucking Joke and Red Jumper

The Vanns

The Vanns laid back vibes were infectious through their whole set. Providing perfect tunes for a party, their sound filled Towradgi Hotel with warm smiles and good times. They're not a particularly experimental band but their sound is fun and perfect for a drive to the beach.

Listen to- Skinny Legs, Belmore St

Skegss

Described aptly by my dear friend Izzy (check out her blog here) as Hockey Dad on meth, I'm at a loss for words when it comes to Skegss. In In all honesty, Skegss were memorable. They have the typical Australian beach rock sound used by multitudes of Australian bands (Think a slightly less experimental version of Black Lips. Now multiply that by hundreds and you have the absolutely thrilling Aussie youth rock scene). This is not to say that bands such as these are useless- Skegss are a great example of the role they can play- they may not be all that original but their songs are catchy; fun tracks that you can sing along to in the car will be forever valuable to music. With that tangent over, it's worth saying that Skegss are worth a listen. Overall, they had fun stage presence and were a decent band to see live.

Listen to- L.S.D

The Pinheads

Strap yourself in, it's time for the pinheads. This was by far the craziest show I have ever seen, I don't know if it will ever be topped. When they came on, I was expecting something quite like their recorded music. I was very, very wrong. I should have known the moment Jez walked onto stage that I was in for a wild ride. If you have heard any of their recorded music, you would know that it has a messy, loud, garage feel to it, but within the bounds of what sounds good. What came out of Jez'z mouth was nothing short of screaming. Now I may have thought this was odd but it got so much more- next thing I know, Jez has thrown himself off of the side of the stage before returning to continue a cycle of screaming into the microphone and throwing himself onto the ground and into the crowd. Before I knew it, the drummer was wearing only his underwear, the bass player was shirtless (no one could tell me where his shirt went) and Jez was quite literally ripping his shirt off. The only way that I can describe what was happening on stage is this- the inside of someone's mind during a panic attack, but laced with LSD. The keyboardist had a middle parted bowlcut and played the keyboard with a stick. Up the back there was a man in a denim tuxedo playing tambourine. I can't even begin to comprehend what went down on that stage, but I know that it will stick with me forever. Points to The Pinheads for memorability. And for causing all of the fantastic faces that Izzy made during the set, highly enjoyable stuff.

Listen to- If I Have To Wait

Nicole Millar

There's no way around it- Nicole is absolutely phenomenal live and in recording. To start off with, her stage presence is out of this world, drawing attention and interest from the start and maintaining it through the whole set. Through technical difficulties, she maintained her grace and composure like the absolute pro that she is. Her sound is sensual, slick and all round sensational, perfectly representing the electronic indie pop world that she fits so beautifully into. Definitely a highlight of the festival.

Listen to- The Tremble EP (yes, all of it)

Hockey Dad

Going into this performance, I didn't expect much; I feared that Hockey Dad would be yet another band that sounds great in the studio and disappoints live. I was wrong about this on so many levels. Apart from a bit of rough-housing in the crowd, Hockey Dad's set was well executed. They came through with all of their best tracks and were fun to see. They were by no means spectacular and weren't the best act of the night but were still great live.

Listen to- I Need a Woman, Can't Have Them, A Night Out With, So Tired

Hermitude

Following a disappointing trend of live electronic music, Hermitude played through most of their set by pressing play on their laptop and dancing around a bit. However, they had pretty good stage presence and all of the tracks they played were energetic and upbeat. Hermitude was a really fun act live, closing up the night on a good note.

Overall, there was great variation between the different artists, it was well run and a great day. If Yours and Owls sets up another u18 festival, it's well worth attending.