polaroids of androids

theredsunband + Richard In Your Mind + Straight Arrows @ Annandale Hotel - 19/01/2008

Occasionally, the stars align and we are treated to a show which showcases just how many special bands occupy this town. Saturday was one of those rare moments when a trio of very different - yet all equally impressive - bands were presented to us like a feast to a hungry teenage girl who is thinking about starting an eating disorder because of the pressure of Dolly magazine.

Straight Arrows kicked things off to a fairly empty main room. Their jangly garage punk is starting to sound slightly more refined, yet still packed full of the carefree approach which makes them such a pleasure to watch.

The pyschedelic whirlpool that is Richard In Your Mind took to the stage for the middle slot and, along with their usual array of pleasing, tripped-out pop songs, unleashed some new props - including a death metal voice effect and a very nice large gong.

They were in their usual impressive form. New guitarist Admiral Joel Werner seemed to slot comfortably into the vacant role, although we are still not sure about the band's new approach of ditching their trademark compulsory Buddy Holly glasses for all members.

Theredsunband, who we slightly dislike because of their total disregard for correct formatting, seem to dive in and out of the music spotlight as they please. This has always appeared to us to be mainly caused by the continuing push for quality over quantity and not because of heavy netball and touch football commitments. Their set on Saturday night showcased this fact as, even with moderately shit sound, they delivered a completely engaging and addictive hour of music. The contrast of sweet, innocent voices and dark, haunting rhythms is something truly unique and - at times - completely mesmerizing.

The slight line-up change - former drummer Jon is no longer with the band - seems to have had little effect on their overall sound. The Kelly sisters, with the help of a fill-in drummer, cut through the hearts of the crowd as they worked through an endless stream of songs that seem to capture pop catchiness and ghostly emotion in well structured three minute packages. Even without a notable stage presence and completely void of any crowd interaction they commanded the audience's complete attention.

The show was officially an EP launch for their latest offering, Like An Arrow, which contains the title track and latest single along with four other equally impressive songs that have been recorded throughout the past few years. The EP is a offered as a preview for their second album which is due out in February. If Saturday's taste was anything to go by - it's going to the first great local release of the year.