LIVE REVIEW: SPACEY JANE @ SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL 23/03/2021

It was only two and a half years ago that Perth indie-rockers, Spacey Jane, performed to a room of 80 people at Yah Yah's in the early hours of the morning. Since, their 2020 track 'Booster Seat' scored number two in triple j's Hottest 100, and their debut record Sunlight (2020) placed at number two on the ARIA charts.

On Thursday March 25 the outfit played to a crowd of two-and-a-half thousand people in Naarm/Melbourne. Supporting them was Adelaide indie-pop artist Jess Day and Melbourne's RAT!hammock. RAT!hammock frontman Jackson Phelan found comfort in humour during their 12-song set. As such, RAT!hammock covered the "Piracy: It's a crime" song from the anti-copyright infringement campaign - complete with sirens and all. Melbourne indie artist Merpire also joined RAT!hammock for the entirety of their set. Her signature harmonic vocals and vigour were a welcome addition to RAT!hammock's expansive back catalogue.

As the sun began to set, the crowd was itching to see the postponed Spacey Jane gig, which COVID-19 delayed. The opening riff of ‘Skin’ played and there was an eruption of cheer and applause from adoring fans. Everybody stood up in their pods and grooved to one of the first singles released Sunlight.

Spacey Jane performed a mixture of old and new tracks, with ‘Sawteeth’ played early in the set. ‘Sawteeth’, a track from their EP In the Slight (2018), is a melancholic song, with frontman Caleb Harper’s pensive lyricism making it a stand-out from the rest.

A hypnotising light show began as a euphoric introduction for ‘Weightless’ transfixed the crowd. During the chorus of ‘Weightless’ the crowd was receptive and singing at the top of their lungs.

For their next song, ‘Wasted on Me’, the crowd had even memorised the drum beat. It was safe to say at this point that Spacey Jane have touched the hearts of many of their Melbourne fans.

And what’s a Spacey Jane gig without one of their most popular tracks, ‘Feeding the Family’ (2017)? By this point an exhausted crowd were weary but proceeded to belt out the lyrics nonetheless. Towards the end of the set, the Perth indie-rockers played their most popular song on Spotify, ‘Booster Seat’, with an overwhelming show of gratitude for their fans who voted it in at number two on triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2020. A change of pace came as ‘Booster Seat’ ended, with a change to striking red lights and thunderous instrumentals as the band transitioned to ‘Still Running’ (2017).

Ending on a high, Spacey Jane played ‘Good For You’ (2019) to a crowd enraptured in their presence.

Releasing an album during a pandemic is no easy feat, and Spacey Jane are living proof that music can withstand the test of time. Their polished performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl was energetic and showcased the immense talent of all four members of the band in creating a new soundscape for Australian music. As fans eagerly wait for the release of their second album, Spacey Jane can rest assured knowing that their music has galvanised an entire generation.

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