Fresh from their epic and energetic performance at Groovin’ the Moo Canberra, San Cisco were at it again, appearing at Rafters Bar, Charles Sturt University – the very uni your humble contributor attends. So it was with great pleasure (and with great ease) that I was able to see the indie-pop ensemble play on Thursday night.
Unfortunately for San Cisco, their performance was scheduled the day after CSU’s biggest night of the week. The stragglers who weren’t bed-bound, still nursing a hangover, dutifully made their way to the bar. Because of this, the venue was sparsely populated. I felt almost a little embarrassed for my uni due to the poor turnout – just last Sunday San Cisco had played to an enormous crowd all packed tightly under the palatial confines of the Pavillion.
However, the advantage of player to a smaller crowd meant their was a higher chance you could get up close and personal with the band. True to form, lead vocalist and guitarist Jordi Davieson strolled right through the front door of Rafters’. My friend – slightly gobsmacked at the sudden appearance of Davieson – managed to get a handshake and a friendly hello, before he disappeared backstage to get ready for the show.
I’d never really been a fan of the whole indie-pop sound – I find it bit generic and wearing sometime. But after hearing San Cisco at GTM, especially their cover of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. They played a medley of their finest hits from their debut album San Cisco, as well as Gracetown. Shortly after arriving, they took to the stage, launching into Too Much Time Together. Their warm presence immediately besotted the small crowd, whipping them into a frenzy of waving limbs and stomping feet.
Davieson, sporting a beige corduroy jacket, long hair, and other assortment of hipster-y fashoin items, was a natural and effortless singer, perfectly hitting all the notes in his characteristically high voice. He hit it out of the ball park with songs like RUN, a breathlessly high energy composition, and their most famous and iconic hit: Awkward. But it was also Josh Biondillo on guitar which really lifted the performance to another level. He is a phenomenal and adept guitarist, responsible for giving the band their iconic indie-rock sound.
Mid-way through the performance, Davieson paused to have a quick chat to the crowd, saying, “We’ve never been to Bathurst, what’s there to actually do here?” To which one enthusiastic fan replied, GET FUCKED UP!!!” Oath.
Beach was an especially poignant moment of the performance. It’s such a beautiful, slow song, that it allowed things to come down a few beats, before the chorus once again got everyone going, jumping in perfect synchronicity. Pulling the old, “we’re done now, see ya later” gimmick, the band swiftly departed the stage, before the loud chants of raucous youths managed to summon them back for one final performance of Fred Astaire.
It was during the culmination of the performance that a few punters from the crowd decided to rush up on stage, dancing next to Davieson in pure awe and delight of what they were doing. They were half-heartedly ushered off stage by some disgruntled looking security personnel, before scurrying back up whenever they got the chance.
Evidently tired of the CSU students shenanigans, San Cisco departed the stage for good this time, thanking the crowd for coming. All around outside the venue, students milled excitedly, hoping to grab a glimpse, and maybe a photo, of the band. Bringing enthusiasm and character to their performance here to CSU must have been no small task after such a mammoth effort at GTM.
They put on an entertaining show and I definitely recommend seeing them live if you get the chance. Their effusive brand of indie-pop charm will definitely leaving you hankering for more.
Check out the other dates below for their Gracetown Tour to see them for yourself.
Buy tickets right here
DATES
Thursday 14 May – Solbar, Maroochydore QLD (18+)
Friday 15 May – Collangatta Hotel, Gold Coast QLD (18+)
Saturday 16 May – The Triffid, Brisbane QLD (18+)
Sunday 17 May – The Triffid, Brisbane QLD (under 18 matinee)
Wednesday 20 May – Club 54, Launceston TAS (18+)
Thursday 21 May – Hellenic Hall, Hobart TAS (18+)
Friday 22 May – 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC (18+)
Saturday 23 May – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne VIC (under 18 matinee)
Friday 29 May – UOW Unibar, Wollongong NSW (18+)
Saturday 30 May – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW (all ages)