The second of two sold-out nights at Adelaide's Crown & Anchor saw Byron Bay's most eccentric psych outfit remind South Australian audiences just how much fun live music can be.
Unpredictable, irreverent, and utterly funkadelic, Babe Rainbow delivered a whirlwind of boogie-focused numbers drenched in beachy cool and Miami Vice-style swagger (21 March).Formed in the early 2010s, Babe Rainbow has carved out a distinct niche in the Australian psych-rock scene with their unique blend of '60s-inspired psychedelia, surf rock, folk, and funk.
Their music drifts effortlessly between hypnotic grooves and playful, offbeat lyricism, evoking everything from the cosmic explorations of Pink Floyd to the free-spirited sunshine pop of The Beach Boys. There's a sense of nostalgia baked into their sound – like an acid-tinged daydream of vintage California, but with an unmistakable Australian charm.
Led by the charming yet utterly whimsical Angus Dowling on vocals, Babe Rainbow's nationwide tour comes ahead of their latest full-length album, 'Slipper Imp And Shakaerator', set for release on King Gizzard's newly founded record label P(doom) in April.
Read our recent interview with Angus.
The new material sees the band dive even further into their retro-fied psychedelic delights, continuing their tradition of genre-hopping with an unmistakable sense of fun.
The backbone of the band's sound, arguably led by bassist Elliot O'Reilly, provided an immediate anchor for each song, offering a sense of familiarity across much of their catalogue and live set list.
Their ability to create danceable, groove-laden psych tracks while maintaining an effortless, freewheeling vibe is one of the key reasons they've built such a devoted following.
Beloved songs like 'Peace Blossom Boogy' and 'Something New' were all on display at the Cranker, alongside rousing covers of Nirvana's 'On A Plain' and an impromptu jam of Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck In The Middle With You'. These covers weren't just crowd pleasers, but also fit seamlessly into Babe Rainbow's aesthetic – reinterpreting classic tracks with their signature laid-back, psychedelic spin.
Onstage monitoring issues were evident throughout the set, but rather than derail the night, they became part of the show.
Hilarious segues from Dowling and guitarist Jack Crowther saw their long-suffering sound technician, 'Steve', bombarded with requests – ranging from removing all vocals from the mix to dimming the venue lights into total darkness. The latter created a moment of pure immersion, letting the audience lose themselves in Babe Rainbow's pastel-satin waves of sun-drenched summer vibes.
The lead single from their upcoming release, 'Long Live The Wilderness' felt less like a traditional stage performance and more like an intimate jam session in a friend's living room.
That relaxed energy extended to the band's approachability – Dowling's banter stripped away any sense of rock-star mystique, making the performance feel all the more relatable. At one point, the band even encouraged him to sneak offstage for a quick ciggie during a lengthy instrumental passage.
French musician Camille Jansen, joining the band for the entire tour, also played a role in bringing Babe Rainbow's colourful repertoire to life in a unique way. She dug out the French-language deep cut 'Monky Disco' and took lead vocal duties for a dreamy, comforting rendition of 'On A Plain'.
More than just a live show, Babe Rainbow's performance was an invitation to step into their world – a world of kaleidoscopic melodies, hypnotic grooves, and sun-soaked, carefree energy. With a mix of tight musicianship and an endearingly loose attitude, they reminded Adelaide just how much joy can be found in music that refuses to take itself too seriously.
