On Saturday the 9th of July, I had the pleasure of going down to YMCA HQ in Leederville to watch Small Town Heroes launch their new EP, Get Up Get Out, along with an amazing group of supporting acts. Iâve got to say, this was not a night I will be forgetting anytime soon.
First thing, straight up, there was free pizza. I mean, thatâs already won my heart pretty much, and the heart of any other wannabe pop punk princess out there. It was nice to know the boys were looking out for their fans on a cold and rainy night by bringing the cheesy goods. It definitely added to the relaxed, friendly vibe the venue had.
The first band to perform was The Faux, a band I had never heard of, but boy, I donât think Iâll forget them now. This band is awesome. I was hooked from their first song. Nothing about this band or their songs is mediocre or predictable, in fact itâs the exact opposite. I would definitely recommend you check out their single â9:14â, which I was actually able to pick up a copy of so there will be an in-depth review of that posted soon. I also absolutely loved âSmall Townâ and cannot wait for it to be released. I honestly canât think of anything to liken them to because their sound is so unique. I love it!
Next up was Those Who Dream, a two-piece band made up of brothers Josh and Cooper, who I actually had the pleasure of going to school with, although I highly doubt that they actually know who I am. It seemed that there were a few nerves at the start from Josh, but these soon faded away as the pair really got stuck into their set. Joshâs quirky personality shone through during their cover of Twenty One Pilotsâ âMigraineâ, with Cooper delivered drumming skills that could rival Josh Dun himself. Josh was also flawless in his guitar and keyboard playing. The boys did well in getting the audience pumped up and laughing.
Then there was the part of the night that I was, admittedly, most excited for; Young Robin. Anyone that knows me will know that I am a real sucker for this band and can never resist a chance to see them live. Iâm not a massive fangirl for them (trust me, those days are far behind me), I just honestly canât fault anything these lads do, and thatâs not normal of me. I am very critical of music and will tell you when I think somethingâs bad, but there is seriously nothing I can criticise them on. To my delight, they played a new song for us that I had not heard yet (which I believe is called âStayâ but I could be wrong). What a tune! While it was different to their other music, it still kept the same elements that make it a Young Robin song. I am eagerly waiting for it to be released. They played crowd pleasers from their latest EP Tether like âGet In The Airâ and even an old favourite; âBirdâs Eye Viewâ. The performance was high energy and oozed with feel good vibes. The band had everyone dancing and a fun time was had by all. I think the boys just gained themselves a big new group of fans.
The last band to perform before Small Town Heroes was Ready To Fire. I love a good pop punk band with a female lead, and Donna is the perfect kick-ass girl to lead this very promising band. Ready To Fire are really a band that knows how to own a stage and demand the audienceâs attention. They absolutely blasted out their songs, including favourites like âCitysideâ and âMake It Lastâ. They even did a cover of 5 Seconds Of Summerâs âShe Looks So Perfectâ, which definitely got everyone fired up and ready (pun totally intended) for the main act of the night.
At last, it was time for the Small Town Heroes boys to perform. The tension in the air was so thick, you could have mistaken it for the brain of a Donald Trump performer, no thanks to the fangirls. The only thing I will criticise the night on is that with a band like Small Town Heroes, it unfortunately attracts a lot of fanatics. Now don’t get me wrong, a couple of years ago I was crying over One Direction (embarrassing, right?), so I totally understand the mentality of these girls, it just seems that when a lot of them get together, it creates a very judgemental and cold atmosphere. I wonât get too into it because Iâm planning to write a separate post on the music fan culture and how it has evolved. It just felt a little like everyone was judging everyone else because every girl believed that they were the ultimate STH fan. Regardless of this, the boys ABSOLUTELY. SMASHED. IT. My expectations were exceeded beyond belief. Talk about a powerhouse performance! The show was so high-energy; it was incredible. The band has really upped their game since I saw them at HyperFest earlier this year. I have to say, I wasnât overly impressed with their new EP. The songs are decent and a big step-up from their previous EP, although I didnât really see anything special in it, but seeing the songs played live is a whole other story. They gave them so much force that I did not feel through my earphones. This is why I urge everyone to go to as many live gigs and concerts as possible, because music was meant to be played live. They brought passion and emotion into the songs, which I find only the very best artists can deliver in recorded songs. I have a whole new view on the EP now and absolutely love it. I, and I think everyone else in the room, was particularly impressed by their pop-punk style cover of âI Just Canât Wait To Be Kingâ from Disneyâs The Lion King. I would quite happily listen to their version on repeat all day. The band finished the night with an encore, performing âSixth Streetâ, which was met with roaring applause.
I left HQ that night with a happy heart (and also minor deafness and an early onset bout of Post-Concert Depression) knowing that I got beyond my moneyâs worth of entertainment. I would fully recommend YMCA HQ Leederville as a venue and only have praising words for the 5 bands that performed that night. It was truly a showcase of the young musical talent we currently have in Perth. I canât possibly give the night a score of less than 10/10.
A Musical Affinity 