I kicked off an epic day of Vivid early, catching Yo Gabba Gabba! ahead of some fascinating chats at Creative Sydney. Dubbed “Creative Futures”, today’s talks were streamed live online, so I hope you had a chance to catch it too!
The segment “Building the Brand” was of particular mention, with intriguing insight into the making of the new video game L.A. Noire, the (re)branding of Foxtel Station STVDIO, and a look at the 125+ year history of Albert’s Music. From the Boomerang Mouth Organ, to music publishing, helping create ABC radio, and modern day activities with YouTube, this is a relatively unheard of brand who have moved with the times and remained a viable, impressive force in the Australian music industry for 125 years. It’s nothing short of a must-hear story for those interested in Australian music history. Certainly opened my eyes!
Of course, this 125 years of history brings us to our present day, and it’s at Vivid Live that some of the world’s newest talents have been getting their chance to shine. One such act hails from Worcester, Massachusetts, and goes by the name Dom… Though at tonight’s Sydney Opera House Studio showcase, they chose to introduce themselves as “Destiny’s Child”.
The latest Modular signees, who released their EP Sun Bronzed Greek Gods in Australia the day before their performance, were given an opportunity by Vivid to get the word spreading locally about their music, displaying their wild, energetic performances they’ve become known for to a largely unfamiliar crowd.
Playing for little more than half an hour, we definitely got a taste of what the band are all about. Lead vocalist and namesake Dom attempted a crowdsurf during “Living in America”, which gave us an idea of the sort of show they normally achieve: some kind of controlled mayhem, with surf inspired riffs that send us right back to the ’70s. “Borchicha”, which was played second, was a particularly impressive song, while “Burn Bridges” proved the highlight of the set. They came across as an act well suited to the Sydney scene, with lo-fi rock and roll riffs, and the pop sentimentalities that always seem to go down a treat in this scene. Though they never came across as anything truly groundbreaking or original, much like their label mates, Dom are simply good fun.
Unfortunately, in spite of this display of talent, Dom were ultimately a disappointment, with their on stage swagger akin to that of a trainwreck. This was due to lead singer Dominic’s frustration with a request to “keep the guitar down” (by Cate Blanchett) due to a performance next door. Combine that with a low attendance, as well as the cancellation of their gig the night before… The frustration boiled over, and the show became a missed opportunity for the band.
While at first it seemed like a jovial jab at the management, as Dominic walked offstage, proclaiming in frustration “We’re Cate Blanchett, have a great night”, before throwing down the mic, it seemed pretty obvious that this was a band whose frustrations had bled to the surface. The crowd was left feeling like the band were leaving the stage early as an “F you” to the organisers – though with little more than an EP under their belt, this may not have been the case.
Nonetheless, they failed to follow the first rule of live shows 101: deal with the circumstances, just play the best you can. You never know who’s in the room, and you may never get that opportunity again. Indeed, there were plenty of industry folk in the room, and few seemed impressed by the display. In spite of Dom’s complaints, they were sounding fantastic, and no one noticed otherwise. It was such a pity that they left me feeling so uneasy about the experience – because, musically, this was definitely a band who proved themselves tonight, even if they were insistent otherwise.
