Live Review: Tame Impala, Mini Mansions

A lightning-riddled, pale orange post-apocalyptic night sky in semi-regional Perth was oddly enough the perfect atmosphere for the dreamy and fuzzy sounds of psychedelic rock. The Belvoir Amphitheatre of Upper Swan served as the ideal destination for the occasion, and was given a nostalgic nod from the Perth local power group. With its grand winding trees and limestone terraces, the Amphitheatre manages to conjure a mood of connectedness and intensity.

A suitable accompaniment to the main act was Los Angeles-based three-piece Mini Mansions, with their playful and almost goofy fusion of psychedelic- and indie-pop. "This set goes out to all of our friends, and the Eagles Of Death Metal," vocalist and drummer Michael Shuman proclaimed. The performance took on a notably lighter and more buoyant tone from here though, the band bouncing through material old and new from their impressive discography.

Tonight Tame Impala performed as a visceral and cohesive five-piece live unit. The group have have well and truly blown up on an international scale, and deservedly so. Touching on the utterly human and often melancholy themes of heartbreak and loss in 2015 album Currents, Kevin Parker gives the tried and tested formula a fresh new take, framing the painful process in a particularly cathartic and spiritual light. Though perhaps not as controversial as the almost inaudible levels of their Sydney performance, the sound levels here were definitely inadequate, but thankfully this failed to dampen the deeply powerful presence of the Perth locals. "How you guys doing?" was the simple and understated icebreaker from Parker, which received passionate and restless wails from the crowd in response. Following a brief, static and pulsating reverberation of sorts, synchronised with dancing, green laser-like visuals, the indelible opening riff of Let It Happen washed over an excitable audience — timeless wisdom and advice worth taking on board for the spectacle ahead. Parker's moderately manipulated, saintly vocals held up extremely well in a live format, and, together with spookily accurate instrumentation, made for a performance that Perth can proudly and unreservedly gloat about.