Fresh off the release of their long in the waiting debut album This Is Our Vice, Cub Sport returned to Perth for their first headline show in the city as part of their national tour. Playing alongside support regular Bec Sandridge and local band The Peppermint Club, the Snapchat videos were up in full force as the crowd danced along to the synths and guitars radiating tight, clean electro harmonies.
The Peppermint Club eased the crowd into the indie pop melodies for the night, a sizeable gathering appearing for doors open, one couple shaming us all with their paired dance moves.
Bec Sandridge and band appeared on stage, the frontwoman emitting boundless nervous energy threw out a quick intro about her name rhyming with sandwich before diving straight into the first track. The thick tread of her shoes quickly became obvious as she danced on the spot faster than Usain Bolt, the mood like pure electricity as she lunged between guitar hook slaying and vocals. The monochrome co-ordinated band easily matching the musical equilibrium, the steady synths and percussion bringing it all to balance.
Barely a month since I last caught them supporting Montaigne, it was surprising to see how their sound was still so fresh and unique, bouncing through “You’re A Fucking Joke” and “In The Fog, In The Flame” with the front rows jerking along to the quirky notes. Offering up a 5kg tub of fairy floss a certain band member partially destroyed (we won’t name names), Sandridge performed her “most rock and roll moment” tossing out handfuls of sugary goodness before closing out with “High Tide”.
The long time fans were evident in the front rows as Cub Sport arrived on stage, understandable given their last gig in Perth had been back at the release of hit single “Evie” in 2012. Working straight into “I Can’t Save You” and “Simmer”, I wouldn’t be exaggerating too greatly to say there was at least one swoon in the crowd. Their stage presence was immediate and well practiced, the transitioning of frontman Tim Nelson from instrument to vocals was natural and seamless, and the quiet confidence of the group shone through every track.
“It Kills Me” and “Only Friend” demanded an earnest and passionate sing-a-long from the venue, keyboardist Sam Netterfield leading the dance moves as Nelson worked the front of stage, back dropped in heavy smoke bursts and purple lighting, the ethereally melancholy pop tunes absolutely mesmerising the crowd as they chanted to the chorus lines like a confession. “I’m On Fire” and “Stay” picked up the pace with no less enthusiasm as Cub Sport continued to work through the This Is Our Vice tracklist.
Answering calls for some of the older favourites, “Told You So” chimed in with that almost eerie quality to the breathy vocals, the steady keys gradually ramping up until the room were jostling in a dancing frenzy. The lighting darkened for Cub Sport’s Like A Version of “Ultralight Beam” by Kanye West, Nelson carrying out the lyrics with the seriousness of Yeezy while the band gave extra power to the instrumental, guitarist Zoe Davis wooing punters with those slick notes.
Those dreamy keys rang in once again for “Come On Mess Me Up” for the last song, Nelson’s falsetto filling the room leaving everyone in goosebumps, the guy behind me adding some unique beer can percussion to the chorus. The cries for encore weren’t enough for some people, punters upping the cheer to “two more songs!“, before the band reappeared and gave us another hit off the original Told You So EP with “Evie”. Dedicated to one of their super cute doggos, the catchy light hearted melody left us with a final dance off.
Evident from their last sold out tour and the immediate response to debut This Is Our Vice, the Brisbane four piece have seriously put finesse to their sound and it has resulted in such a smooth live show that ended way too soon. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait too long until Cub Sport bring that infectious, breezy production back West again.
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