Since releasing their debut track Hold Me Down almost a year ago, Sydney trio Mansionair have become a go-to, permanent fixture in many people’s music catalogs. They’ve racked up millions of streams, toured some of the biggest and best festivals in the country and got to take their talents to the US, UK and Europe to support CHVRCHES on tour.
Their genre-defying sound has earned them near universal acclaim from the likes of NME, BBC Radio, Stereogum and of course your humble correspondent here at Howl & Echoes. And for good reason too: their idiosyncratic brand of incandescently beautiful indie-electronica will lift you up and carry you away. Lead singer Jack Frogatt’s hypnotic falsetto holds you down from the moment it begins. So it was with great pleasure that I was able to catch them at their Sydney show at the Oxford Art Factory on Saturday night.
Sold-out and crammed full of eager punters wanting to hear the three-piece ensemble, there was an inquisitive air hanging about. Having released just four of their own original songs thus far, what else would be played to fill the hour long set? Turns out quite a lot.
Forbes native and opening act Vera Blue got the crowd started with Hold, a soothing and sultry track that was the perfect entree to the rest of the night. Pick Me Up, their latest release, was an effervescent affair, the soaring vocals of Frogatt highlighted by the atmospheric instrumentals of band members Alex Nicholls and Lachlan Bostock. The crowd stood transfixed, letting the melodious sounds sway them ever so gently as heads bopped up and down in euphoric enjoyment.
One of the best songs in Mansionair’s repertoire happens to belong to someone else; Future Islands to be exact. But their incredible cover on Like A Version for Triple J made it their own. The hauntingly bittersweet rendition of Seasons (Waiting On You) was a treat, the live performance amplifying that raw and visceral texture that Mansionair’s cover made possible. It may have been one of the best songs of the night, but it’s also one of the best covers of the year.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5AInHhyXzE&w=560&h=315]
The seemingly portmanteau-ed of the name ‘Mansionair’ is an apt description of what the band offers. A palatial soundscape imbued with a gentle magnitude that is as light as ‘air’. Nowhere was this more apparent than during the performance of Speak Easy, the track currently making continuous rounds on the Triple J airwaves and a beloved favourite. The ephemeral quality of Froggatt’s vocals were lush and heady, sweeping everyone up like a gust of warm summer wind.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc_rJHpXeEk&w=560&h=315]
For the devout followers of Mansionair, any new material is quickly devoured and played repeatedly on loop. So when when the crowd got to hear new songs, which we will all hopefully hear on the forthcoming album, it felt incredibly generous and intimate. It’s always a bit difficult to gauge brand new material from a live experience, but the so-called Shadows was a showstopper. The worst part was their was no actual track I could go and listen to obsessively afterwards.
Finishing with their most renowned track was a no-brainer, and Hold Me Down entranced. The set was surreal, the lyricism more potent when sung directly at you, endemic of the band’s adept songwriting skills. Now the real question remained: when would a full length album finally come out? Hold me down, but don’t hold out on us for too long guys.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm_o7wMq9dQ&w=560&h=315]
Guys, we have less than two months until Foals grace our shores once again. The UK rock heavyweights released what’s perhaps their best album to date, What Went Down, earlier this year – and along with the release came the beyond-exciting news that they’ll be touching down in Aus to headline Falls Festival across 2015/16 New Years! They last performed here as the last-minute fill in headliners at Splendour in the Grass 2014, at which point they blew our minds. We’ve bene recovering ever since, but we’ll be ready for them come December 30.
Along with the news that they’ll be headlining Falls alongside Disclosure and Bloc Party, came the highly anticipated reveal, that Foals would be performing a few headline shows too! Okay well, just two to be specific, but we’ll take what we can get.
Support acts have now been announced, and they’re absolutely incredible. One of my favourite parts of festival season is that so many bands are in town at once, that they all just play together – so Foals attendees will be treated to a brilliant musical triple threat, ft. London’s Django Django and Sydney natives Mansionair! Both acts will be performing at Falls Festival too, but here’s your chance to catch all three in action from the comfort of your home city (if you live in Sydney or Melbourne).
With Splendour in the Grass headlining acts like Blur, Florence + The Machine, Of Monsters And Men and The Wombats to name just a few, smaller, lesser known acts have big expectations to live up to.. But hey, that doesn’t mean they can’t fulfill them, hell, even smash it out of the ballpark.
I often think the smaller acts during the day or in the early evening are the best. In fact, my favourite performance of last year was on the last day of Splendour 2014, watching Chrome Sparks play to a tiny, worn out crowd of devoted revelers. It was such an incredible, happy experience for me, and definitely one of my best Splendour mems.
These lesser-known artists often cater to a very niche, dedicated group of fans who will show up rain or shine to see them. And plus, the benefits of being in a smaller crowd means that you can have a stronger connection to act you’re seeing.
So now we launch into a list of non-headliners who we can’t wait to see perform at Splendour in the Grass 2015. Most of these acts are playing Splendour in the Grass sideshows too, so jump on those if you can’t make it to Byron Bay!
- Dune Rats (Saturday)
You can assume that any band that makes a song called Dalai Lama Big Banana Marijuana, and a music video, which includes them smoking, bong after bong, gives absolutely zero fucks about, oh well, just about anything.
But it also means they are a really good time. Fans of the Dune Rats (calling themselves ‘Dunies’) are so dedicated to the band that they will get tattoos saying the aforementioned to forever immortalise their love for the trio.
We can’t make this shit up
They will definitely make for one of the most bangin’ acts there. Don’t believe us? Check out their red hot music video for Red Light Green Light below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAkBYSbMYA8&w=560&h=315]
Check out our interview with them here.
- Years and Years (Saturday)
Burning up the charts with their hit King, British electronica trio Years & Years is definitely an act not to miss. Frontman Olly Alexander’s impressive vocals will have you attempting to reach the same heights as him, only to fail miserably, because let’s face it – who can actually sing that high? Singing’s not his only talent – he appeared on the seventh seasons of Skins Pure.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_uoH6hJilc&w=560&h=315]
- Safia (Saturday)
Which big Aussie act hasn’t collaborated with Canberra three-piece Safia yet? The dumb ones, that’s who. Since winning Triple J’s Groovin’ the Moo competition back in 2013, the Canberrians have gone form strength to strength.
Included by the likes of Alison Wonderland and Peking Duk into their works, perhaps we can hope to see an onstage performance between the aforementioned?After all they’re also appearing at Splendour, so we may be getting a triple dose of Safia and his hauntingly beautiful vocals.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv_FnbBqnWs&w=560&h=315]
- Hayden James (Saturday)
Sydney Singer/songwriter/producer Hayden James is just more evidence of the amazing electronic acts coming out of Oz in recent years. His works have been remixed by fellow electronic demi-gods Touch Sensitive and Charles Murdoch, and track Permission to Love created some serious buzz when it was released.
Signed to the music label with the Midas touch, Future Classic, he’s toured with ODESZA and already played at Splendour in the past, so James is definitely an easy predication for awesomeness.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mVJJvx04_w&w=560&h=315]
- Mansionair (Friday)
Oh. My. God. I am literally obsessed with this band. Their two releases Hold Me Down and Second Night are just so incredibly beautiful to listen to. Jack Frogatt’s vocals soar to incredible heights with members Lachlan Bostock and Alex Nicholls using a ethereal, magical blend of guitar, bass and electronics to create something so beautiful and enchanting. If their recent performance for Triple J’s Like a Version, covering Future Islands Waiting On You, is anything to go by, they will be show stopping live.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5AInHhyXzE&w=560&h=315]
- Porter Robinson (Friday)
This guy achieved international superstardom by the time he was 18 and three of his records had reached number one on Beatport by the time he was 21. He’s collaborated with Thomas Jack and ODESZA, been commissioned by Avicii and Lady Gaga for official remixes and is a self-taught producer.
Needless to say, Porter Robinson is kinda a big deal. With millions of streams on Spotify and SoundCloud, and a song like the one below, he’s going to be fucking incredible live.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/200818581″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
- San Cisco (Friday)
An easy prediction for greatness here. Their performances at Groovin’ the Moo and at my uni were incredible. They give their all and sound great live with their effusive brand of charming indie-pop. Definitely catch them when they play for their acclaimed hits like Awkward and their excellent cover of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCaVZ3fmU0&w=560&h=315]
- Catfish and the Bottlemen (Friday)
The best British indie-rock group to come out in years, Catfish and the Bottlemen put in 110% effort for every performance, just read our review of them here.
The charming lead vocalist and guitarist Van McCann’s crowd interaction will leave you guffawing, and their feel good, old-school rock will have you jumping up and down for the entire set. Despite their modesty and self-proclaimed mediocrity, they really bring something special and genuine to all of their performances.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrrcVxnjJO8&w=560&h=315]
- George Maple (Friday)
The beautiful and very talented George Maple always puts on a good show. How could you not with those powerful, soaring vocals, amazing wardrobe and Touch Sensitive on keyboard? She is, without a doubt, the Next Big Thing coming out of the Australian music scene.
Why you ask? Take a look at her hauntingly beautiful live recording of her song Vacant Space, which sounds like a manifestation of the name of the song itself.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcRnr7HlkqA&w=560&h=315]
Having had seen her play at the Future Classic Xmas Party, I can attest to the fact that she is a genuinely talented and beguiling as she seems. And Future Classic has very good track record of picking up and representing hugely talented artists. Flume anyone?
- Client Liaison (Friday)
Holy shit. If I could stress that you absolutely go and see one band, it would be these guys. You simply have to catch these 80s revivalists live. When you think of someone putting on a show, these are the kinds of artists who do it. They do not mimic the whole 80’s thing – they live, breathe and eat it. They inhabit it. Their performance at Secret Garden Festival was one of the best things I’ve ever seen full stop.
These guys are the real deal
Lead vocalist Monte Morgan strutted across the stage like he invented the damn thing. A bevy of aerobics-clad dancers with their leotards pulled up eye-wateringly high, mirrored his swagger, while Triple J’s Tom Tilley was killed it bass.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVv79XEent8&w=560&h=315]
Simply a must see. Above all, they are hella fun. Don’t believe us? Check out our review of their Pretty Lovers tour here, and our interview with them here.