Live Review: New Towns, Outlnd, Elle Clover

If this year’s triple j Hottest 100 countdown taught us anything, it’s that surf-rock is king in 2019. With that, of course, comes waves of local bands to oversaturate the scene and make it hard to separate the good from the great. Southwest WA surf-rockers New Towns set out to debut their new single on Friday night, and in the process, show which side of the fence they fall on.

Elle Clover began the night at the eclectic beachside setting that is El Grotto, gracing the fern-laden stage with a gorgeous six-string. Despite her best efforts, and near-perfect vocals, Clover's show fell victim to loud chatter and most of her set was drowned out. Her spacey, tender style would be better suited to a more intimate venue that put her voice at the forefront.

Vocalist Outlnd continued the brave fight against the bustling crowd and got off to a great start with a lively rendition of MF Doom’s High John, forcing the audience to take notice. Although his set included a number of impressive unreleased originals, it was covers of well known tracks like Anderson .Paak’s Am I Wrong and Frank Ocean’s Pyramids that truly grabbed the crowd, while also displaying the singer’s clear R&B influences. With the stage presence of a festival headliner and an excellent vocal range, Outlnd will be a name to watch.

It was finally time for hosts New Towns to show the crowd what they had in store, as a swarm of long-haired fans descended upon the congested stage area. The set immediately had the crowd vibing, with the band opening with the reggae-injected, Ocean Alley-esque title track from their 2018 debut EP, Circles. After a wholesome rendition of Player’s Baby Come Back that momentarily turned the venue into a group karaoke session, New Towns were ready to premiere their latest offering, Don’t Run. Surprisingly, the track moved away from their surf-rock sound, containing heavy grunge influences. We’ll have to see how their wider fanbase receives this voyage into new waters, but it was well received here judging by the adoring crowd screaming for an encore.