The opening of Brisbane Festival perhaps provided enough good vibes to last the entire run of the festival. With up and comers Tia Gostelow and Ruby Fields opening up, and San Cisco and Ball Park Music headlining, the night was about as entertaining as a bill could provide.
Brisbane really turned it on for the night and by that I mean, it rained for the first time in months, but that couldn’t come close to dampening the nights vibes. Walking up the hill entering the Riverstage the line for under 18s was enormous and for many I imagine this could be their first concert. Their excitement was palpable and I was reminded about how good an opportunity these events are. The chance for this age group to see two of the largest acts in the country was huge and the teens were definitely dominating with the early punters.
Tia Gostelow is up first and while the rain is softly falling she begins her set. The young artist from Mackay has had a big week playing a few shows around Bigsound and she demonstrates just how polished a performer she is becoming. Tracks like Utopia get the crowd dancing who have huddled together sheltering from the weather. Her rendition of Empire of the Suns We Are The People is received with a group of screams as Tia displays her range and commands the crowd making the song her own. She finishes strong with Strangers, her latest single, and her powerful voice rounds off an impressive set.
Next up is Ruby Fields who has attracted another group of fans to the show and are keen to let it be known. The customary run down the hill begins as people respond to the big guitar riffs and sludgy bass lines. When she plays Ritalin a big circle of the front crowd starts to jump and belt the big expletive filled lyrics with all the joy in the world. In the current climate for young folks there is a joy in screaming ‘doesn’t it suck growin’ up?’ She has harnessed all the elements in Australia’s rock revival in her own way that is earnest and endearing. During Redneck Lullaby without the band she shows there is vulnerability amongst the good time tracks and that they are equally as captivating.
The early comers who braced the rain are being rewarded, because as the clouds clear San Cisco take the stage to roars from the crowd. San Cisco have been on the scene for a while and after bursting out in 2011, have demonstrated how loveable their take on indie pop is. They are seasoned veterans and perform with such mastery that every harmony hits you with joy as the sweet guitar riffs captivate you to move your feet. They genuinely look happy to be playing to such a crowd with drummer Scarlett Stevens constantly surveying the crowd smiling. New to the outfit but not the music scene is bass guitarist Jennifer Aslett who, while new, seems as much as the band as original guitarist Josh Biondillo, both share some keys and vocal duties. Every time vocalist Jordi Davieson sways his hips there is a emphatic squeal as tracks like Run whip the crowd into a frenzy. Old favourites like Awkward get big responses as do relatively new tracks like Hey, Did I Do You Wrong? Their new track is a bit of a departure with its slower pace it almost seems like there are elements of folk to it, but regardless it goes down well. They finish off their set with Too Much Time Together and it encapsulates all the best elements of San Cisco. It’s filled with sweet cheeky riffs, beautiful harmonies and the upbeat pop sensibilities that ensure that everyone goes home with a smile on their face. But, there is one more act on this bill and they are the juicy course that compliment such a meal.
Ball Park Music are about as Brisbane as it gets and are very much the party people of this generations music. They are the perfect act to finish this night and deliver such a powerful set utilising tracks from their entire discography. They start off with The End Time off their latest album and immediately throw it back to 2014 with Everything Is Shit Except My Friendship With You. They only have an hour and fifteen minutes and they were going to jam as much in as possible. They are the physical manifestation of the definition of ‘party’ and seem hell bent on providing Brisbane with the best party it can. They are such a tight unit and all feed off each others energy. Sam Cromack commands the stage with his cool demeanour and already feels like an icon of the music scene. Jen Boyce is impossible not to watch in awe as you see her enjoy herself, you can’t help but smile. Twins Dean and Daniel Hanson both bring their own party with their shredding and hitting respectively. Finally, Paul Furness on the keys makes the piano and synths feel so cool as they weave their way through the tracks. They are having such a 'ball' on stage and the audience can sense it as they scream every lyric back at the band. Occasionally, the mix is loud and sometimes you can’t really hear Jen’s back up vocals which makes me sad as often I feel it is Jen’s voice that gives BPM that familiar sound that is so heart-warming. It takes a few songs but they do alter the mix halfway through the set and those vocals hit you right in the party heart.
This is the opening of Brisbane Festival and Ball Park Music pay homage to the roots of Brisbane music scene with a brilliant Custard cover of Apartments. They play deep cuts like Bad Taste Blues amongst classics like All I Want Is You and She Only Loves Me When I’m There. Moments like an acoustic version of It’s Nice To Be Alive truly do make you feel like you are witnessing a Crowded House perform Don’t Dream It’s Over moment. In a few weeks Ball Park Music will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary and on a personal level hearing tracks like Alligator off their debut album was a huge treat. Ball Park Music are at it’s core focused on creating fun music to be enjoyed and on stage you can see they are enjoying themselves. It is very difficult to see a universe where I wouldn’t be happy at a BPM show and this night they deliver a beautiful concert experience which the crowd will not quickly forget.
Jack McDonnell