Flyying Colours [Shoegaze / Psych]
Event Page: Official | Archive
Date/Time: Fri 2022-06-18 20:00
Venue: The Landsdowne, Sydney NSW 2000
Links: Spotify | Bandcamp | Setlist
This was a night of fuzzy guitars, dreamy vocals, and pure passion for new sound. It seems like every new gig I attend, the queue to see the show gets longer and more eager. It helped that the Landsdowne was going to live on after all. Whilst I waited, I talked to a nice chap who was a musician and knew some of the folks from PEEL. I was grateful to get some insight into the musician's life and what the recent availability of live shows have meant for bands and their discoverability.
I really like the Landsdowne because it can morph into whatever it needs to be. Kind of like the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter. It feels like you're hanging out in an unknown garage, with nothing to come in between you and the band.
First up was PEEL - an up and coming psych/shoegaze band with a real knack for showing their emotion and energy in their sets. I thought their punk inspired stage presence really complemented the fuzzy shoegaze guitar. I think it's also testament to the band's skill to integrate so many amazing instruments together as well such as keyboard, 2 guitars, drums, and bass. If there is one thing I distinctly remember is that the drummer really gave it their all. The amount of focus and determination was ever visible. Much love to them all.
The next set was followed by the sublimely named Ultracrush. This was a really fresh approach to shoegaze and dream pop in my opinion because the vocals and the melodies were both melancholic and ethereal. It was a combination that allowed for new feelings - one of longing and bittersweet. The band was kind enough to share their new unreleased song Away Game which was absolutely my favourite from them. It gave me Cloakroom vibes. Fun fact, the band was very approachable as I asked the band frontperson what watch they were wearing at the end of the show. It was a vintage Seiko mechanical watch!
And then, the band everyone was waiting for - Flyying Colours 🌈. I must have seen them at least 3-5 times and what draws me back is the energy and performance this band strives for. Their sound gets better every year and this year was no exception. Their new dream-pop like tracks create a break in the ultra fuzz pure shoegaze earlier work. The crowd was in a trance. White Knuckles and the long guitar sections at the end never get old. A nice rollercoaster of dream pop, shoegaze, and psych. This band has a gift in their unique sound and totally chill and playful demeanour. The bass player almost expressionless in deep concentration, channelling it all via her bass guitar.
A nice memory here that I got to be a part of was to meet one of the band's most enthusiastic fans, for whom I took a photo in front of the marquee once the show had ended. Here is to the next time I get to see them live. I dare say this has become a tradition for me.
📷 Photos
PEEL
Ultracrush
Flyying Colours