Birds of Tokyo have been around for quite a few years now. Since their debut in Perth in 2004 and after releasing two EP’s, they released their first full length album in 2006 titled Day One. After extensive touring they released a second titled album, Universes, which was recorded in LA and has won many accolades. The band then embarked on a Broken Strings tour in 2009, which had a selection of their music accompanied by a string quartet and grand piano and this production blew the minds of their fans and no doubt developed a new string of devotees. Move ahead to 2011 and a third album, Birds of Tokyo, makes their mark again with the public and the band play smaller venues around Australia to keep rocking but at a more intimate level. At present the boys have released a four-track EP, This Fire, which is a selection of songs off their fourth studio album, released soon, very soon.
‘Welcome to this amazing room, fucking amazing’ singer Ian Kenny states as he opens the show with “Broken Bones” that leads the path into the total mind destruction of the Ormond Hall punters tonight. It’s almost a surreal experience watching the band on stage- I can’t help but feel they look a little out of place and that a high school theatre play would look more the part. It’s certainly a beautiful venue with a small amount of seating upstairs (not comfortable seats) and great space downstairs with an atmospheric side bar and a beer garden. Inside, the place certainly wasn’t packed which was a nice change; punters could dance and watch the band without being crushed.
The light show tonight was amazing, one of the best I’ve seen in a while. There were loads of different coloured lights rotating in sync to the songs, a few rotten pink ones that burned my retina, and some magical blue lights that streamed through smoke in one direction up to the roof; just amazing. Next up, “Wild Eyed Boy” was a crowd pleaser –punters raise their arms and sing along to every word – yep Birds of Tokyo have got some really dedicated fans that soak in the bands sound.
“Silhouettic” brings forth Kenny action, swizzling those hips and swinging those arms whilst looking great up on stage. Adam Spark on guitar grooves into “The Saddest Thing I Know” which is a catchy and graceful song even though the title doesn’t make it out to be. “The Gap” starts and the crowd roars, Adam Weston on drums brings the beat up and Glenn Sarangapany on keys bounces those babies as though he sleeps with them! It’s a song of gold, an amalgamation of sound and a blend of vocal purity.
“Circle” brings the crowd down to a slower pace as Kenny’s vocals pour out into the hall ang the sound resonates through each of us, what a voice he has. Other songs played tonight are “Murmurs”, “Plans”, “Wild At Heart” and a few new songs from the up and coming album such as “The Lake” (soft, mellow tune with great big drum sound) and the final song tonight (the EP title) “This Fire”, which brought the crowd into a frenzy.
Bassit Ian Berney pulled some great bass moves whilst Sarangapany hopped up on the keys and played them with feet and fingers! The night finished up with a cracker of a light show – then it’s hall lights up and time to go home.
