Date: August 22, 2009
Venue: The Zoo, Brisbane
Acts: Decoder Ring, Bridezilla, Seekae
A goodly sized crowd is on hand at The Zoo tonight to catch Decoder Ring. It’s my first listen to a band that has garnered a lot of respect for it’s instrumental rock-tronica, and I come away impressed by both the strong nature of their tunes and their ability to hold an audience entranced. The “big-screen” imagery projected onto the wall behind probably helps — a chaotic visual feast that spans a mind-boggling gamut of rocket launches, blooming flowers, space panoramas, ultrasound imagery and much more. Any ultimate meaning is debatable, but it’s a hook for the eye that enlivens what could otherwise by an entirely too introspective experience.
On the other hand, Sydneysiders Bridezilla prove a disappointment. The way they deployed the saxophone and violin on their self-titled EP was just thrilling — a menacing thrust and riposte duel working around and through Holiday Sidewinder’s vocals one of the highlights. Unfortunately, it’s hard to perceive the challenging angularity that made that release so fascinating in their performance tonight, even on the cuts drawn from that effort.