Playing their biggest headline run to date, Big Scary kicked off their Animal tour at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne on Friday June 16th. Gracing the stage with a five-piece band and a shadowy backdrop, the live show proved to be just as brooding as the much loved album of the same title.
Supporting Big Scary were Brisbane locals Cub Sport, another band making waves in the Australian music scene. As the Forum began to fill to the rim, it was clear that the crowd were just as excited to see the support act and as soon as they started playing their indie pop sound had everyone dancing. The band utilized their set to play a few new tracks, including ‘Hawaiian Party,’ which had a slow grooving tropical theme to it, exerting extremely mellow vibes. As well as new songs they also played crowd favourites, bellowing out tracks like their cover of Kanye West’s, “Ultra-Light Beam”, made popular when they played it on Triple J’s Like a Version. The set finished with arguably their most popular hit, “Mess Me Up”, which had everyone longingly swaying.
As we waited for Big Scary to take the stage, CC:Disco! kept the crowd moving with their electric dance tracks. The set kept the crowd buzzing until the lights dimmed down and the band enter the stage.
Fronting a backdrop donning creased and darkly coloured panels, Big Scary started playing, “Double Darkness”, with moody electric undertones, transforming the stage into a ghostly wild forest. Tom Iansek’s whispery vocals floated ominously through the air, whilst being sweetly complimented by Jo Syme’s hypnotic drumming. They played tracks from the new album, including highlights such as, “Organism” and “Lone Bird” as well as songs from previous albums such as “Twin Rivers” and “Falling Away”.
Iansek and Syme’s were joined on stage by a band, who gave each track that extra something, something. The saxophone solos almost stole the show, and the guitar and electric keys added an experimental sound. Syme’s moved from drums to vocals for a soothing rendition of “Harmony Sometimes”, before Lansek hoped back in lead to finish up with crowd favourites,”Opposite of Us” and, “Lamina” (which, for those playing at home, is the last track on the new album and Animal backwards).
The band hoped back on stage to play three more tunes for the encore, allowing one last boogie before signing off for the night. The crowd left full and content, like a bunch of wild animals who just fed on a smorgasbord of fresh meat (the fresh meat being juicy melodies).
Big Scary continue their tour through to July, their next show in Fortitude Valley in QLD. For full tour dates and details head to: http://www.bigscary.net/
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