Live Review: Splashh, Fascinator

Above from the inner-city streets, where plenty of middle-aged Melbournites are drunkenly celebrating the Wallabies' triumph over the Lions, Johnny Mackay is onstage as Fascinator. The Children Collide frontman seems to be at the point in his musical career where he is just doing whatever he wants. Wearing a homemade fascinator (of cap and plastic mesh) and a lovely flowing dress with a split down the front, which allows us a glimpse of jeans and sneakers, he performs alone while plenty of punters watch from the booths that line the walls in the Ding Dong bandroom. The music he creates with his 12-string plus various audio gadgets is altogether eerie, though not all that challenging. His voice remains strong and melodious amidst the swirling noise.

Tonight's headliners are the much-hyped, UK-based outfit Splashh. With two New Zealanders, an Aussie and an English bassplaying gentleman, the band have drawn what seems to be a mix of ex-pats, family members and a whole bunch of kids keen to check them out into the building. From their first song they are able to draw these punters away from the walls and onto the floor in front of the stage. The four-piece lock in tight rhythmically, driven by Thomas Beal's prominent basslines and Jacob Moore's clean drumming. It soon becomes apparent that the band are happy to extend their songs instrumentally, with almost voiceless verse sections punctuated by choruses carried by Sasha Carlson's sharp melodies. This effect works especially well when Carlson's fellow guitarist Toto Vivian joins him on synchronised vocals.

Though some sing along at every available opportunity, they remain in the minority and it takes a while for the punters to fully give themselves over to the music. But with tracks such as Headspins and Need It on offer early, and the extra depth of sound added by Vivian on occasional keyboard, the crowd is soon moving with the rhythms of Splashh's psych-gaze sound. The band, for their part, also seem to come alive mid-set, as they try to break the cool of their beanie-wearing bassist by teasing him with requests for a bass solo. After Beal not-so-politely declines, he recovers quickly, leading the next song with one of his nonchalant basslines that are integral to Splashh's live sound. Feels Like You and All I Wanna Do are the highlights of the set's back half but, as the clock ticks just past midnight, the band put down their instruments and let the reverberation ring-out. It's all over, and we won't be seeing these boys again until they are a much bigger prospect.