Live Review: RACKETT, Whalehouse, Port Royal

Tonight, unlike most nights, walking up the stairs of The Foundry feels like going through a time portal. With leather jackets, oversized clothing and a wide age gap of people young and old creating a strong rock'n'roll atmosphere, there's a build-up of anticipation for Sydney's psych-punk quartet RACKETT, and the incredible line-up they've brought along with them.

If rock'n'roll is dead, then it's no wonder Brisbane boys Port Royal have amassed such a fanbase to witness its very resurrection. Hearing a crowd scream out the chorus of Get Heavy within the first five minutes of their set makes everyone just walking in assume a headliner has already taken the stage. Showing off some new beachy-like romantic tracks within their set shows the band are confident spreading their wings and taking on other classic rock ventures. They pelt into latest single Rock & Roll Is Dead and prove the contrary. With lead guitarist Liam Morton taking the frontman reigns for another new track, it seems only fair the Royals stop teasing the crowd with new material and finish up with Dirty Boy.

Taking the stage is more locals, punk trio WHALEHOUSE. Pulling off a similar screech-like vocality of Perth's Boat Show, it seems only fair that they'd be thrown within the midst of a strong line-up. There's a small crowd jumping around to two unreleased tracks, and while some are left drowning in sweat, it's a great preamble to the final act of the night.

Jumping on stage in silver space suits, Sydney's RACKETT begin with a fuzzy ambience, and the second the lead guitar of Space Cadet comes into play, the crowd have started dancing around with frontwoman Rebecca Callander. 

Even if it was just serendipitous timing from the staff, there aren't many that notice the venue's mirror ball activates as Callander sings "Can you see the light coming?', opening up their track Alive. The more interesting section of the set, however, kicks in as the band introduces two unreleased tracks. The first is a nice blend of both pop and psych that gets the energies of the crowd building up for the set highlight, possibly called 'I Please Myself'. With Callander singing out about the unnecessary need for men for pleasure, the crowd quickly chants with the band and dances away — it's hypnotic, elegant, and an extraordinary experience — even without a guitar, Callander still knows how to put on an incredible show.

Throwing on a perfect dose of fuzz yet again, RACKETT groove into Ready Or Not! and to those bearing witness to the band for the first time, there's nothing catchier than shouting "District! Destruction! My Way! My Moment!"

Closing their setlist with Your Son and Fuck You, the band don't completely leave the stage, instead they ask the audience if they should play a cover. And with a brief crowd vote, they finish off the night with Wolfmother's Woman. If there's anything that speaks from RACKETT pelting out that track, it's that they certainly are giving everyone the feeling of love — and they will set you free.