On the eve of their departure for SXSW, one of Melbourne’s favourite bands, Twerps, showcase their lovable low-fi surf-pop to an already sizable crowd. The hype has been growing for the quartet since the release of their debut, self-titled album last year, and it’s certainly nice to see that they can draw a crowd to rival the headliners. Never has a band looked quite as comfortable on stage as these guys. Their relaxed vibe makes it feel like you’re watching a friend’s band playing in the garage. Of course, Twerps impressive song-craft and skillful execution certainly exceeds that of your average neighbourhood band.
“We’re going away for two months and I miss my dog already,” announces frontman, Matty Frawley. “I’ll miss you guys, too!” he adds, as the crowd replies with an endearing “aw”. The tales of desperation that paint Frawley’s lyrics are somewhat lost through his languid, breezy vocal style, but that makes it all the more compelling. Vibrant melodies traverse punchy guitars, warming our hearts with the enchanting goodness of it all. The band will be following Real Estate back to the US, embarking on a tour with them after their SXSW appearances.
Real Estate envelops the crowd in intricate psychedelic tapestries, woven from the most sumptuous guitars and grooving basslines. Simultaneously soothing and stimulating, their music could be described as a janglier Tame Impala or a sun-drenched Deerhunter, while Martin Courtney’s voice has a sleepy Stephen Malkmus-style vibe to it. Considering a large proportion of the crowd had probably only just returned from a huge Golden Plains weekend, it’s no surprise that they can barely muster enough energy to raise their beers to their mouths. The band makes little effort to engage us, but bassist Alex Bleeker’s enthusiasm is sufficiently compensates for the lack of audience energy. Normally, a crowd that remains practically motionless for the entirety of a band’s set would cause concern, but tonight, it’s impossible not to slip into a hazy hypnogogic-state, somewhere between sleep and the psychedelic paradises of Real Estate’s glorious sonic offerings.
Real Estate never miss a beat, expertly floating through a number of tracks from their two exquisite albums, but there’s little variety in the band’s repertoire. Each track consists mostly of hypnotic psychedelic guitars, creeping basslines and simple percussion, and seems almost formulaic. Recorded, it’s not so apparent, but in a live setting, many of the tracks seem to blend almost effortlessly into the next. You’ll suddenly realize the band is mid-way through “Younger Than Yesterday” before you’ve even realised “Green Aisles” had ended.
A psychedelic jungle, “Fake Blues” is injected with a fresh energy that is missing from the recorded version. It’s the first track that elicits a notable crowd reaction, as some people start to tap their toes a little. The drums pound like an elephant stampede and the guitars swarm around us like beautiful bird songs. The sleepy “Suburban Dogs”, with a chiming guitar and charming melody, is a modest highlight of the evening. Bleeker adopts vocal duties for “Wonder Years”, from their stunning 2011 album, Days. With a bouncy guitar riff and slightly off-pitch vocals, this track finally gets some heads bopping.
Closing with a stunning rendition of “Beach Comber”, the gorgeous instrumental outro dips into silence, before erupting again into a final jam. Humble smiles splashed across their faces, Real Estate’s departure is followed by some slack cheers and a mild smattering of applause. It’s the lazy grins that adorn the faces of the crowd that really shows our appreciation of the band…or maybe it’s excitement at the realisation that we finally can go home and sleep.
– Lara Moates
