polaroids of androids

Hand Me My Jetpack @ Spectrum - 02/06/2007

We have prattled on about this new Sydney band a number of times, ever since we were blown away by their energy and unique sound at Keegstock - and last night their performance did more than enough to live up to our own hype. Hand Me My Jetpack raised the bar once more, showing that the last few months of practicing and perfecting their sound has made them an even more solid outfit, as individual musicians, as well as a cohesive unit.

Besides being incredibly tight as a band Hand Me My Jetpack obviously feel passionate about the songs they are creating and communicate this well to their audience. In some sort of pop-laced version of Fugazi (ok, maybe that's just what I hear) they are confronting, without being intimidating, catchy without being sugar coated goofballs and talented without the posing factor.

This 'double microphone dualing' setup worked very well. With the singing duties split between Joel on guitar and Dean on bass this simple stage arrangement added an extra element of aggression to their sound as it was almost as though the opposing singers, with very differing vocal styles, were challenging each other with very line.

Hopefully, their raw style and catchiness will transcend over on their soon to be released debut EP. We have heard that it will be out sometime in the next week or so with a slight radio push to the non-commercial stations over weeks that follow.

They'll also be playing a few more shows in the upcoming months, including a couple down in Melbourne. The next chance to catch them for Sydney kids will be at the Hopetoun on the 22nd of June, supporting the awesome Belles Will Ring.

The main slot on the night was reserved for Blue Mountains based rockers, Cloud Control. Obvsiously they are highly talented but lacked the punch to raise the bar as they should have done as the headlining act. I still wouldn't mind seeing them again when they aren't following one of my favorite bands at the moment. Wrong place at the wrong time for them I guess, at least for me.