Despite what their name may suggest, there’s nothing particularly sweet about Sugar Army. Touring in support of their lauded new album, Summertime Heavy, the Perth band guided their authoritative rock to a troop of eager cadets at The Toff.
Eyes closed, hair expertly slicked-back and tenderly embracing the microphone, vocalist Patrick McLaughlin, is totally absorbed within the solemn delicacies of opening track, “Future Spark”. Gaining momentum with every beat, guitarist Todd Honey, lunges back and swings around wildly, exchanging excited grins with drummer Jamie Sher.
“Will You Follow,” the second single from Summertime Heavy, takes advantage of Sugar Army’s penchant for dynamic riffs, pillaging percussion and anthemic choruses. The turnout may not be large, but there’s a dedicated fanbase devoted to gleefully functioning as a small militia of backing vocalists, each of whom is already totally familiar with the lyrics of the new album.
“Last show of a massive three date tour,” McLaughlin teases. “It’s been long.”
A formidable force in the live setting, and possessing a back catalogue devoid of a low point, it’s astounding how recognition seems to continually bypass this talented musical collective. Perhaps their musical treasures are too potent to be shared evenly amongst the general populace, so those who are here for tonight’s intimate show feel they’re getting a greater portion of the rich, sonic loot.
The aptly named “Hooks For Hands” sinks its sharp hooks in even deeper when performed live. The maniacally paced percussion solidly carries a series of twisted guitar riffs and an apocalyptic bassline across the imperious melody. It’s deserving of a spot on any serious end-of-year singles poll.
“We’re going to play some old stuff, if that’s okay with you guys,” announces McLaughlin, smirking in anticipation of the responding cheers. Air guitarists and head-bangers build a fumbling barricade at the foot of the stage.
On their 2008 EP, Where Do You Hide Your Toys, “…And Now You’re Old Enough, I Think That You Should Know” lost its edge in a muddled arrangement of aggressive post-punk percussion and oddly new wave vocals. However, it’s worth seeing Sugar Army live if only to witness the transformation undertaken by this song, as it becomes a pulverizing musical sledgehammer. It’s a testament to the skill of this band that this track is performed so monstrously loud, yet not a single beat or note is lost to noise.
Armed with an abrasive riff and structural pandemonium, “Actually, It’s What’s On the Outside That Counts”, is an exercise in organised calamity. Honey jolts exuberantly across the stage while Sher becomes a blur of thrashing arms and flailing hair. Sugar Army stealthily slip from delicate, melodically driven prog-rock opuses to frantic and incendiary post-punk aural war-zones, with flair and finesse unlike any other.
Sher’s violent percussive onslaught tears rapidly through “Tongues In Cheeks”, cementing with awe-inspiring muscle his place amongst the finest drummers in the country. The brutal force with which he bashes the skins in no way compromises his precision, nor does it dull the complexities of the arrangements.
A reworked instrumental sees “Tongues in Cheeks” dip into murkier depths, emerging with an extra layer or grunge and grunt, punctuated by Honey’s viciously dislocating riff, winding skilfully to an extended final chorus.
“Detach” progressively climbs a moody, serpentine ladder towards a gravely mesmerising final chorus. McLaughlin adopts a guitar for a chillingly stripped-back rendition of ‘No Need For Lovers’. Live, the track assumes an urgency and desperation that is only a lyrical allusion on record, as the haunting layers of vocals are abandoned in place of McLaughlin’s lone, soulful croon.
The tyrannosaurus expanse of the bassline in “Summertime Heavy” unexpectedly consumes the venue, as the sweet, meditative chant of the recorded version evolves into a fierce, prowling beast in the live setting. It’s the ideal way to end a set richly laden with the kind competing imagery of both the track’s title and the band’s name.
Let’s hope it doesn’t take three years and another album before we’re once again invaded by Sugar Army.
