Tame Impala rock the socks off the Tivoli
Words: Clare Kempnich
Pictures: Kate Scantleton
Friday May 14, 2010
Tame Impala have been making old sounds new again since their first EP release in 2008. Hits like Desire Be, Desire Go, Skeleton Tiger and Half Full Glass of Wine booked them a role as a support act for the likes of You Am I and The Black Keys. Nowadays, the ensemble Perth band is a headlining act playing sold out shows around Australia to promote their latest album release, Innerspeaker.
Seeing this band live was a completely different experience to listening to their music. They are identifiably youthful on stage (lead singer and songwriter Kevin Parker is only 20) and this only makes the ensemble more intriguing. As the band started their intro track, I truly found myself wondering how a group so young could produce sounds so sophisticated and mature. I think the reason that people have taken such a liking to Tame Impala is due to the fact that they pay homage to the some of the musical greats of the 60s and 70s (the likes of Cream, the Doors, The Beatles etc) whilst producing sounds that are inexplicably contemporary. Their self-proclaimed genre “psychedelic groove rock” has forged a unique niche in the Australian music scene and captivated fans both young and old.
What I loved most about Tame Impala’s performance at the Tivoli is that it really just was an excellent display of musical talent. With Jay Watson on drums, Paisley Adams on bass and Dom Simper (whom Parker has been playing with since age 13) on lead guitar and keys, the crowd were confronted with what can only be described as great live music. This was the kind of stuff that really just put you in a good mood, whatever your situation.
The band played crowd favourites from their original EP and mixed them with songs from their current album, which produced some beautiful songs which occasionally latest upward of ten minutes. This was great because think it recreates the experience of listening to the Tame Impala’s music as a whole, rather than treating each song separately and singularly. Though there is no doubt that Parker has the ability to create unique and individual songs, his talent is perhaps best appreciated when tracks are presented in succession. This is definitely one of the few occasions where less crowd interaction makes for a better performance.
This being said, this aspect of the set in no way made the band seem uninterested. Its easy to see that all member of Tame Impala have a true love for the music they create and the people they create it for. Their ability to connect with music-lovers of both current and past generations is a quality that will hopefully guarantee them success internationally as they support MGMT in the US from the end of May.
Innerspeaker is on sale online and in record stores as of yesterday.