48 hours or so after Splendour came to an end, I return to Sydney slightly under the weather, with the memories of an excellent weekend that passed by all too quickly. Thankfully, the sideshows continue around the city and the country, keeping our live music withdrawals at bay – at least for the moment.
The first band who I’ll be re-experiencing post-Splendour is the UK’s Band of Skulls. Catching them briefly on the Amphitheatre stage in Woodford, I’ve been looking forward to tonight’s intimate performance at the Oxford Art Factory for quite some time. The room was a tight squeeze as the three piece made it onto the stage, drowned in fog and ambient light, the reverb of Russell Marsden’s guitar bouncing off the Art Factory’s walls. After an unexpected jam, they launched into a killer rendition of “Light of the Morning”.
While their banter was minimal, the three piece had a lot more to say via their instruments than during their fairly straightforward Splendour set. They were having a lot of fun shaking things up, especially on Twilight track “Friends”, and main set closer “Hollywood Bowl”. With some jams lasting a couple of minutes, they kept the crowd guessing what the next song would be until the moment the first chord reigned down on us. In fact, it would have been easy to miss encore track “Impossible” in between extended jams on either side; Russell hovering his guitar over the crowd.
This is a band who have made a killer debut, and on stage this translates incredibly well. It’s just as catchy, and breathes new life. For all three members, including the effortlessly sexy bass guitarist Emma Richardson, they weave through the songs with ease, impressing all with their super awesome mad skills.
It’s without argument that this is a band of the rise, and ones to watch as they continue to crank out great song after great song. “Cold Fame” and “Death by Diamonds and Pearls” are ones of particular wonder you should get your hands on, as is the Twilight track (and single) “Friends”. They even released an EP for that one, if you’re hesitant to get your hands on the New Moon Soundtrack (as wonderful as it is, in spite of my opposite feelings for the film and book series).
After tonight’s stellar performance, and the knowledge that this is a band who can produce a virtually perfect album, the sky’s the limit, and I can’t wait to hear whatever they come up with next.
Unfortunately I missed support act Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, who we’re big fans of here at the AU review. Check out our past coverage of the Adelaide six piece, here: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/fire-santa-rosa-fire
And don’t miss our photo gallery of the reviewed event!
https://www.theaureview.com/photos/band-of-skulls-oxford-art-factory-03-08-10
SETLIST:
Light of the Morning
Bomb
Friends
Patterns
Fires
Cold Fame
I Know What I Am
Death By Diamonds and Pearls
Blood
Hollywood Bowl
—
Impossible
