Live Review: The Babe Rainbow, Parsnip, Banana Gun

Byron Bay's own purveyors of psychedelic-pop, The Babe Rainbow, and their sold-out circle of followers rolled into Lansdowne Hotel last night with one thing on the mind: good times.

Emerging on stage, which was fittingly dressed with Bird of Paradise flowers, the trio grooved through their signature blend of kaleidoscopic jungle sounds and had the well-oiled crowd swaying, bopping and seeing colours.

The Babe Rainbow are touring their self-titled debut album around the country, spreading '60s nostalgia and love as they go, both in sight and in sound. Joined by their special guests and likewise retro revivalist acts, Parsnip and Bananagun, the stage was brimming with eclectic musicians who looked like they'd just stepped off the Magical Mystery Tour bus and transformed the band room into a legitimate dancefloor. "Be safe, be respectful," they softly urged as the audience lost themselves to the catchy, slightly off-the-wall music.

Punters in the front row were entranced by lead singer Angus Darling as he led the eccentric pack; feverishly rattling his maracas, crooning and gyrating his hips through a hazy cluster of tracks like the infectious Peace Blossom Boogy and Johny Says Stay Cool. A throwback to The Babe Rainbow's first EP came in the form of head-spinning summery tune Love Forever, which was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd, and topped only by an unexpected, uplifting cover of Blondie's Heart Of Glass.

The boys from Rainbow Bay weren't here for banter, gimmicks or encores, but they laid down their magic 'til midnight and gave us a little spiritual awakening.