The first time I heard Brisbane dream-pop band Bloom Parade was for only a minute.
The line outside the venue was long, leading to most people missing most of their set. I entered just in time for the final minute of their set, but it was enough to convince me there was something special about this band.
With their sold-out show at Bloodhound Bar launching their debut EP (22 September), I learned how correct I was.
Brisbane duo Keeskea were last-minute replacements after the original opener cancelled. Together they weaved delicate folk as quiet as pin drops from a rusty guitar and violin. They were barely audible over the crowd’s chatter, but were stunned into silence by Vanessa Marousopoulos’ gentle voice.
Up next, sitting on a stool and playing guitar, was Byron Bay performer Hugo Costin, aka The Astral Plane Parade. With eyes closed, Hugo’s reedy voice shook over soft-pop backing tracks. As drum machines and synths played, Hugo put his guitar down and wandered into the crowd to present them with flowers.
Freed from his seat, Hugo danced erratically to his calming music. It was an odd sight to see a man moshing to tender pop, but both Hugo and his music endeared throughout.
Local shoegazers We Set Sail pride themselves on being a depressing band – they sell shirts with the motto 'Live slow, die tired'. But the mood was celebratory, for this was their final show with bassist Hayden Robins. “He doesn’t want to make a big deal of it, so let’s make a big deal of it,” singer/ guitarist Paul Voge told the crowd.
The band drank shots of tequila together as their guitars howled. As the final notes of their set rang out, the band surprised Hayden with silly string covering his grin with the stuff.
Bloom Parade started without warning. The five-piece were crammed onto the small stage; Andy Francis’ guitar stretched in front of singer/ guitarist Mitchell Manz, and bassist Chris Hill was hidden behind a returning Vanessa and her synth.
Mitchell’s voice floated over the chiming guitar strum of ‘Sheets’. After the first verse, drummer Al Gakuru made the song burst into life with crashing cymbals.
It was a short set, but Bloom Parade showed they have a knack for pretty melodies that beamed through hazy textures. It only took a minute to notice them, but after half an hour I was in love with them.
