Live Review: Gypsy & The Cat, Ah Trees

The Northbridge late night venue Jack Rabbit Slim's has cemented itself as the place to go for interstate touring acts wanting to secure a foothold on the local Perth music scene. The colourful retro fitout, '50s styled diner and spacious stage area was the perfect scene for local band Ah Trees to kick the night into dreamy melodic psyche-land. Blending their unique take on moody, atmospheric indie-pop, frontman Ryan Adair took the early arrivals on a mystic voyage of reverberating aural twists backed by progressive, swelling guitar riffs. The audience took their time to get involved, perhaps the cheap drinks and pinball machines distracted them at first, but by end of their set Ah Trees had the room swaying to the music's heavy-hitting back beat.

Soon after the release of their third LP Virtual Islands, Melbourne's synth pop act Gypsy & The Cat announced their intent to disband once their national tour ends. Could this be an orchestrated marketing stunt, or have the gang of two reached the end of this creative path? Tonight, hoards of fans had come to witness the sweet falsetto tones of Xavier Bacash and the multi-talented Lionel Towers one last time.

The show began with the sounds of soft, synthesised strings and chimes over a heavy snare drum, creating a large, open sonic space around the venue. Bacash seemed comfortable on stage, giving a few words of welcome that the audience responded well to. All the classic tracks got a look in - it was hard to see this show as a publicity tour for the new record; it befitted a farewell event. Songs from each of their earlier albums had the room grooving to the danceable riffs and melodic charms, with Bloom and Sorry from their 2012 release The Late Blue coming early in the set.

It took till track five to show off the first of several new songs, with Inside Your Mind taking the rhythms down to a slower, smoother groove, and Towers displaying multitasking skills on the acoustic guitar while handling all the synths. The duo's sound has always been easy on the ear, yet the subtle house track beats and audio filtering effects, oozing reverberations and wide soundscape gives the band a unique sound.

The audience were enjoying every moment, and erupted in a unified voice during Jona Vark, the most familiar hit from the duo's early repertoire. Tonight the fans were getting everything they wanted from this final Perth show, and cheers for more after the boys left the stage had them bounding back moments later for a few more hits. Finishing on Time To Wander, they left the room. All good things must come to an end, saying farewell to a favourite band is never an easy thing.