It was a beautifully cool Fremantle evening as local band Girl Shaped Gun took to the stage at Freo Social to deliver a dynamic and energetic set, opening the night for Electric Six. Freo Social is a venue with a layout that has been designed to ensure the sound is top-notch no matter where you stand, which always makes seeing bands play the stage enjoyable.
Girl Shaped Gun are a dynamic five-piece who have been making waves in Perth’s music scene for just over a year now. Comprised of peppermint tea loving friends, the band’s set up is straight forward but effective in delivering a powerful sound: Eliza on vocals and tambourine, Jake on bass, Joash on drums, and Joe and Sean on guitars.
Freo Social’s band room was about half-full at the start of their set but soon filled out as the riff’s and guitar licks rolled. The guitarists doubled on the backing vocals and even took the lead on some tracks, showing their versatility as performers. The whole band created a layered, rich and warm sound that was driven by thick riffs and the use of wah pedals. Soaring solo’s punctuated songs and crunching guitar riffs brought a vibrant kind of intensity to give Girl Shaped Gun’s music an earthy warmth.
The highlight of their set was the band’s last song, a super-fast-paced number that showcased their ability to blend high-energy disco riffs with frenetic, almost rap-like vocal delivery. The band mixed up the singing from melodies to rapid-fire verses, captivating everyone in the crowd. The band looked tight during their entire set, like they were just friends having fun on stage.
If I had to describe the sound of Girl Shaped Gun, I would say it is fresh, energetic and nostalgic, all at once. If you are a fan of The Paper Kites, you will find much to love about Girl Shaped Gun as their music shares a similar vibe, blending melodic charm with an infectious indie rock energy. They are a band on the rise, with catchy melodies and energetic performances, making them a band to watch closely in the local music scene. If you like indie rock fused with pop elements, you will enjoy Girl Shaped Gun.
GALLERY – Girl Shaped Gun
The energy was electric (pun intended) as the now full band room eagerly awaited Electric Six to hit the stage. The crowd didn’t have to wait long, and their wish was soon granted when high octane disco rockers came out in high fashion, clad in business suits, bringing their theatrical eclectic flair to the stage. Each band member has a unique stage name and the Freo crowd were met by Dick Valentine, Dr J, the White Wolf, Herb S. Flavorings, and the Johnny Na$hinal. The appearance of Electric Six in sharp suits gave an air of stylish corporate meeting, but their stage presence and first song ‘Turquoise’ showed the crowd that they were there to rock, not punch the clock.
‘Turquoise’ is a song that set the tone of the night with punchy guitar riffs and dynamic energy. Many of their tracks are comedic rock numbers that feature dirty grunge guitar and provocative lyrics highlighting the less discussed seedy parts of everyday life. The band picked up the pace with ‘Dr K’ as the crowd showed Electric Six they, too, had brought the energy to party with them all night. Following the first two songs was difficult but Electric Six continued to deliver with ‘Hello! I See You’ and ‘Bride Of The Devil’ as the crowd waved their arms and clapped along while the singer popped his corporate collar. There were many nods throughout the set to other musician friends, including to the bass player from the Hoodoo Gurus.
The guitarists delivered dirty rock ‘n’ roll solos on top of crunchy riffs overlaid with sometimes clean and sometimes gravelly vocals to add a layered mud pie sound to the music being played. Dick Valentine had a way of engaging with the crowd throughout the night and encouraged great crowd interaction and participation. There were arms waving everywhere, clapalongs and singalongs to almost every song, and everybody on stage and in the audience just had a really great fun time.
Electric Six played their track, ‘The New Shampoo’ with a massive sonic disco sound, while Dick’s dynamic display of dance moves on stage kept the energy high amongst the crowd. The setlist featured other fan favourites like the high-intensity hit song, ‘Gay Bar’ and its equally fast paced sequel, ‘Gay Bar 2’ – both of which were met with raucous applause and cheers from the crowd. ‘Dirty Ball’ and ‘Hot Numbers on the Telephone’ continued the momentum, with the band rolling effortlessly between tracks during the set. This was a night to remember!
The carefully curated encore was a series of their best hits, hand-picked by Mel in the crowd, of never before seen songs on the stage. These special numbers included ‘Synthesize’ which they dedicated to their synth player, followed by ‘Dance Epidemic’ and the energetic ‘Drugs/Dance Commander.’ The discussion between songs included a lot of chatter about hotdogs and the nostalgic ‘One Dimensional Speed.’
As the dynamic set drew to a close, with sweat pouring off the band and the enthusiastic crowd dancing along, it was clear that the band’s energy and charisma had left a lasting impression. Electric Six proved they still have what it takes, highlighting their electric theatrical flair and dirty pop rock style to deliver a wildly memorable show.
Photos by Linda Dunjey Photography. With thanks to John Howarth and Metropolis Touring for the media access.
GALLERY – Electric Six
