Live Review: The Floors, Thee Loose Hounds, BATS, Oosterbanger

Friday night saw The Floors unleash their new album, Beat It Down, to a packed crowd at Badlands with more than a little help from their friends. Their first new album in a few years, Beat It Down was recorded over three days in 2016 and although audiences have had to wait almost a year to be able to get a copy into their hot little hands, it was well worth the wait.

With the always groovy DJ Holly Doll laying down some cool tunes between sets, the proceedings were kicked off by Oosterbanger, the solo incarnation of former Catbrush frontwoman Ellen Oosterbaan. With a sound that draws comparisons to PJ Harvey and Sinead O'Connor, Oosterbanger delivered a sadly brief set that was captivating, intense and at times confronting.  Her debut EP, Purge Demos, is available for free download online and is well worth a listen.

BATS took to the stage next and the five-piece outfit got the punters going with their full, retro sound. Starting out as a studio project for frontman Michael Paver, they have developed into a tight live unit and delivered a set full of catchy, '60s inspired riffs and swirling guitars.

With the evening apparently running behind schedule, Thee Loose Hounds' performance was reduced to only five songs. With two squealing guitars and drums, the three-piece hit the crowd straight between the eyes with their own brand of full speed ahead garage-punk rock that unfortunately seemed to be over before it began.

Then it was time. The lights dimmed and The Floors made their way out onto the stage. Kicking off with the first track from their new album, Medicated, the tone was set for the rest of the evening with the fuzz-laden guitar and vocals of Luke Dux matched perfectly, as always, with the driving bass of brother Ryan and thumping rhythms from drummer Ash Doodkorte. 

Following up with Meat and Join The Fight, both also from the new album, The Floors showed that they have developed from their last release while still not straying too far from what was an already impressive formula, before launching into the crowd favourite You Got To Move from their 2012 album, Dead Beat.

With the Dux brothers and Doodkorte showcasing their more than impressive musical chops, honed by years of playing with some of Perth's finest bands and yielding multiple WAM awards, The Floors continued on with their own brand of dirty, grungy, punk blues that reaches out and slaps you in the face with Pills & Home from the new album being a stand out track.

Despite a minor technical hiccup which was taken easily in stride, The Floors once again delivered a stand out performance that held the appreciative crowd captivated from the get go through to the final overdriven riffs. With an overseas tour coming up, hopefully the rest of the world will get to know what many folks in Perth already do... The Floors are damned cool!