Live Review: Stonefield, Kimono Drag Queens, Comacozer

Sydney three-piece Comacozer hit the early-comers with a wall of calming sound. Specialising in an instrumental brand of psychedelic stoner rock, the band chose to let their tunes do the talking, enabling everyone to get caught up in the soothing sounds they were producing. The journey was atmospheric and blissful, yet intriguing and colourful from start to finish.

Next up were Kimono Drag Queens, who barely squeezed on stage. The seven-piece’s psychedelic sound (and look) was tinged with a '70s groove that was utterly sensual. The vocals added to the complex layers of sound rather than being the focal point, and each member brought their own unique style to the performance. The mix was fuzzy enough to get lost in, but clear enough to overstimulate us into a stupor as we watched in awe. While they were people of few words, they did thank us for coming and saw us off with a roaring jam in true psychedelic style.

Stonefield are one of a kind. For starters, an all-female psych-rock band are hard to come by (well at least in the Australian scene); secondly the four-piece are all sisters; finally, at the helm sits (literally) Amy Findlay – who takes on the ambitious and rare role of being lead vocalist and drummer of the group.

Launching into their set, Stonefield immediately showed their teeth and their potential to bite. Unlike the supports, their sound isn’t nuanced and atmospheric, it’s in-your-face, with each note having its own purpose. Their set centred on tunes from their new release Far From Earth, playing the title track along with songs like Delusion and Visions. However, they were not hesitant to reminisce on their beginnings by playing a few early tracks – sharing with us it had been eight years since they first played Oxford Art Factory.

While each track seems to follow a familiar formula – uncharacteristically so for psych-rock - each time Amy Findlay sings you’re caught off guard by the sheer power of her vocals. On record, one would be mistaken for thinking the vocals are double tracked, but live, there no doubt that the girl’s got some pipes. And while there’s nuanced differences between earlier tunes and the latest tracks, with the latter bunch erring towards a heavier classic rock sound; it’s Findlay’s powerhouse vocals, badass double role, and a sense of family love that continues to elevate Stonefield above the horde of other psych-rock bands.