Live Review: Dappled Cities, Hedge Fund, Phantastic Ferniture

Those who bothered to turn up early were treated to an excellent performance by female-fronted Phantastic Ferniture, whose reverb-soaked, post-rock numbers got the approval from both Fantastic Furniture the store, as well the audience who watched them tonight.

Toes were tapping and heads bopping during Gap Year, and everyone was left thoroughly impressed with track Fuckin’ ‘n’ Rollin’.

Hedge Fund’s performance was tight and it was refreshing to hear some alternative rock that didn't mind getting a bit gritty under its polished exterior. Frontman William Colvin was intense, in both his ability to stare down audience members, and his whiny, alternative vocals. Together, this gave them a uniqueness that made them memorable, with these elements epitomised in Look Who’s Back.

Dappled Cities have been kicking around town for a fair while, but have been laying low since 2012’s release Lake Air; tonight they came out to show Sydneysiders what they’ve been working on in a one-off, hometown show.

Cramming themselves onto the tiny stage, they treated us to a set interspersed with new tracks from ‘possibly the best album we’ve ever written’ (which is yet to have a release date), and old favourites Lake Air, Run With The Wind and Born At The Right Time; each ensuing in an ecstatic singalong and daggy dancing from the audience. 

The new tracks verged on the side of electro jams, standing out against the indie rock, hook-laden numbers from their past albums, but were nonetheless enjoyed by the die-hard fans who snagged tickets tonight.

They started bringing it home with track Many Roads, following it up with a few more crowd favourites, before thanking us with a splendid encore that left the crowd’s hunger for Dappled Cities sated until next time.