Friday, June 18, 2010

Miami Horror Moon Theory Tour, Manning Bar 12/6/2010


Miami Horror
Last Dinosaurs
Jinja Safari

Manning Bar
12/6/2010

Miami Horror have perfected the art of 80’s revisited dance infections, crafting numbers that burrow so far into your skull that the only cure is to dance yourself into a frenzy (picture one of those animated clouds of fury where two characters are fighting, except instead of fighting they’re busting some sweet moves). This is no different live with the band/DJ/producer/etc delivering a fluent translation of their synthed-up power-pop mastery.

Local 3-month old baby-band, Jinja Safari were the sports bra of support acts. Their unique brand of sitar-wielding, smile-inducing, ‘forest rock’ was so affable that it hurt. This might sound hyped/dramatic but it seems that this band is poised to take over the world, one dynamic and engaging performance at a time. Is it reasonable to ask a support act for an encore?

Brisbane band Last Dinosaurs make enjoyable pop-rock goodness. Imagine a tropical Red Riders and you’re on the right track. It sounded fairly samey though, bordering on indie-banality. In saying that stand out tracks Alps and Honolulu really hit the spot. If you were to blend those bad boys down you’d be drinking pure liquid wonderment.

In November last year Miami Horror played at OAF where the atmosphere felt more like a joyous house party rather then a concert. 6 months later and the band has kept the frivolity but fused it with a refinement that only comes from experience.

Don’t be on with her got even the too-cool hipsters dancing early with its lavish space melodies and video-game guitar riffs. They continued to showcase new songs for the eagerly awaited debut album, hinting at a drift towards more sharp, electric soundscapes.

Crowd-pleaser Make You Mine cast its contagious dance spell on feverent ears. Co-front man Josh Moriarty sung “baby, you’ve got me feeling it in my feet, you’ve got me dancing” and he wasn’t lying; boy can he cut some moves! Discoesq Moon Theory had a Girl and the Sea feel to it, with its slower rhythm and shimmering synthesisers.

The set seemed to plateau into a series of giant dance jams and impromptu guitar solos. It failed to retain the intensity of previous songs, but maybe people were just tired.

Sometimes people dance to songs. Sometimes people dance really hard to songs with a zeal only held by pill-poppers. Sometimes, bands like Miami Horror play dance-anthem Sometimes and everyone loses their minds. The entire Manning Bar morphed into one pulsing body; a tangle of fist-pumping and glute-shaking.

Reappearing onstage, the band mused on the pointlessness of encores yet followed this with an explosive Summerfest ’86. Amps and drum kits became playground equipment in a volatile frenzy of fun. The closing show for the Moon Theory tour was a treat of dance delicacies that left a reviewer sore, sweaty but enthused.

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