When attending Splendour in the Grass, one part of the day quite difficult to make it in time for is anything pre-Noon. Two bands who fit into this category conveniently joined forces for a wonderful evening at the Oxford Art Factory, and my final Splendour in the Grass sideshow for 2010.
Having regretfully missed a favourite of mine, Step-Panther, I thankfully arrived just in time to see Triple J Splendour Unearthed winners Jinja Safari take to the stage. With their first ever show held in May, a raved about Splendour performance, and their debut EP due in September, it’s clearly been quite an eventful few months for the Sydney based duo – who tonight played as a five piece.
Watching this band live reminds me of the first time I listened to Animal Collective – although I feel they are related closer to something along the lines of Dappled Cities. Nonetheless, as they perform on a stage covered in vines, they easily hold a similar “wow” factor to the North American indie icons.
Dreamy, experimental and down right fun, if you hadn’t heard the hype until now, you better start listening. Triple J favourite “Peter Pan” was an easy highlight of the set. Possibly because it was the only song I’d heard previously… but still.
UK based Melbournites Gypsy & The Cat followed, carrying a much different appeal. Similar to Jinja Safari, however, they are a two piece who have expanded into a larger four piece for their live show. Where Jinja are experimental, Gypsy & The Cat stick to a polished formula. Not in the “OH THE BURNING!” way that someone like Ke$ha does, mind you – rather, more like the way bands like Toto and Supertramp did it in the 70s and early 80s. In other words, it’s awesome. Indeed. this is a band who herald back to the music of old, giving it a fresh take, while still feeling strangely familiar.
A band like Gypsy & The Cat aren’t the sort to convert – if you grew up on music such as the aforementioned, and love it, then you’ll love this new take on a classic appeal. However, if you’ve never been too hot on it, Gypsy & The Cat probably aren’t going to change your mind.
But for me, as I’m very much the former, I found it to be a brilliant set. Track “Jona Vark” was a highlight, and it was a thrill to hear a new take on the music I grew up with. I can’t think of anyone since The New Radicals who have done it quite so convincingly. You may remember The New Radicals as a one hit wonder, and indeed they were – but I get the feeling that Gypsy & The Cat have quite a bit of life ahead of them yet! I for one look forward to seeing what they pull out in the coming months – and you’ll have a chance to hear for yourself when they tour for Parklife later this year!
