The Jungle Giants hit the stage in full flight. A great falsetto vocal start. Baby, are you ready now? Dance energy doesn’t let up for the whole show.
This four piece Indie Pop or Indie Rock band kicked off in 2011. All were attending the same high school in Brisbane, Queensland. That explains why they are so together as performers.
They’ve had chart success early in their career with a self-titled debut EP in 2011, and a first album Learning to Exist in 2013.
They’ve had headline spots at festivals. Shared the stage with Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire at the Australian Big Day Out festivals.
Sam Hales is the frontman who chorales the dance energy. Lead singer, songwriter, producer and occasional guitarist (but not tonight).
Cesira Aitken guitar (who has her own social media fanbase), Andrew Dooris bass, Keelan Bijker drums.
Open the proceeding with On Your Way Down. Keyboard and synth tones are present on backing tracks.
After the first few numbers they remind me of a revamp of the great Human League with tasty flourishes of Rock guitars.
In Her Eyes begins with a great bass hook combined with metronome drums which powers this dancing machine beast for the whole show.
Think of the Jacksons Dancing Machine from 1974 and matched with clean falsetto singer who can hit some of the groove spots of the young Michael J, and you have the reason why they have popular success.
I note they have hit the million plus mark on monthly Spotify streams.
Heartless and Sending Me Ur Loving lock in compelling engine room riff drones embellished by tasty guitar licks.
She’s a Riot is one of the few with a chiming guitar intro. I can hear a little bit of the Boomtown Rat’s She’s So Modern, maybe a little of the pre-Punk Pub Rock of Graham Parker.
Seems like well over half the audience put their hands up when asked the question, have you seen us before? All their tunes are sung back to them.
Hales does resemble Human League’s Philip Oakey, with his shaved head. He has a higher range with his blue-eyed Soul voice.
Monstertruck is a highlight with is popcorn rhythms.
Used To Be in Love. Pure Pop dance groove and this band has had a little influence from Crowded House. Aussies regard them as their own.
Park Rd is a local Indie Pop/Rock outfit, one of many from the music-fertile area of West Auckland.
I have caught their act several times and I am surprised that I haven’t written about them.
I recognise the name as I used to live in Titirangi, and that road is a significant landmark. Bandmembers went to the local Steiner school.
Westies are a curious mix of Bogans (Outrageous Fortune), alternative life stylers, hippies, New Age acolytes, outlaws.
They play hi-energy Power Pop scaled down a little from yer activist snarling Punk.
A few modern Surf tunes like Surfer Boy Paradise and Rise. Not the Dick Dale inspired original sound. More the Garage band sound which you hear with many of the good young Aussies.
There is a surfeit of them and Park Rd could easily slot in there. Tom Chamberlain lead vocals, Angus Hampton-Carr lead guitar, Leo Crawshaw-Bond guitar, Carlos Martin bass, Te Kapua Pene drums.
They play an extended set for a support act, and they put on a worthy show. It a shame the audience is slow to gather tonight before the headliners.
Save The Planet and they kick off with raucous Power Pop.
The closest to a Disco beat is Young Love. Change of pace again and they preview a new one, Antidote. A ballad (the singer gets to display his vocal chops) until the band gets to raise the temperature at the end.
The Jungle Giants are in the home stretch and the frontman appears to have the audience in the palm of his hand.
Deep sub-bass tones vibrate through the viscera on Hold My Hand, their current single.
Dancing groove is nonstop as they finale with Feel the Way I Do and Heavy Hearted.
My final thoughts regarding the singer. Michael J and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography by Leonie Moreland
The Jungle Giants
PARK RD
