Bloom!

Siobhan Cotchin - My setlist notes: 'not sure about going to a country rock set. Hope I can stand it. Well, yup I can stand country rock. 😁 Mainly coz it seemed more rock than country. There's a guitarist who knows how to make it cry and sing, rhythm section are tight even though they don't play next to each other and most of the band's country chops eminate from lead vox. Took vid of an older song of theirs that became two, vid looks ok, but needs chopping. Likely would see again - def in a lineup.

Second Bird band I caught were Dolce Blue. I know this coz it says it on the curtain behind them. 😁 Lead vox in a stole was interesting, but then she brought out a guitar which made everything ok, even though it was only for one song. Also lead guitar was wearing ruffles. Ahh, classy rock :-D - more seriously: melodic rock. Liked them more than I expected to, the drummer turns it up every now and then and takes the melodic stuff into rocking rock. Would see again. Took a couple videos which would've been better except for the red lighting which kept covering the group's faces.

Quick notes write-up, then off to Rechabite where I caught most of the Daisy Park set in the upstairs area. They can rock. Lead guitar likes to move around, chick on bass knows her stuff. Lead vox does a good job of getting the crowd going. Shortish set for me, but saw enough to want to see em again.

Georga Raath. Just Yep. Missed Hard to Love coz no intro, but caught a bunch of other stuff, including new single 'Excuses' (complete with a family sing-along). Knew she had a good voice from the first gig, but starting to realise just how powerful it is. She can belt 'em! Can easily see Ms Raath stepping out of state and into national notice. Lol, got an EP worth of video. Will see again.

Notes from this point are non-existent. I was having too much fun to write stuff down.

I had heard of Smol Fish but don't think I have had them on a gig night before, even mcT'd. 4 piece chick band. Bass and lead guitar alternate lead vox. Keys (almost incognito) and drums make up the set. Good rock, played well. Would see again. Would like to know more about.

Ok, confession time. Went to see Dani Enli to fill in time between bands. Advertised as 'genre-bending pop with big beats, bold visuals and a fearless creative voice'. For my future reference, genre-bending pop == r&b (big beats is the hint there - laid back beats would be reggae, groovy beats would be funk and loose beats would be jazz - this is all original research) and bold visuals possibly means not lots of clothing. Fearless creative voice is exactly what it says on the label. Was about to turn around and head to The Bird coz a) not entirely rocksperth's thing and b) perception - but then a younger version of me asked who the f*#k I'd become on both counts and so I found a spot away from the real punters and sat back to enjoy something new. And it was a blast!

The music is fast and the Hedland DJ backing her up knows her stuff - though could possibly groove a li'l more with the beat. Dani's voice ranges from loud enough to pack a punch when she's angry to drawing you in to listen closer when she drops the volume to more intimate levels. The dance moves accompanying the performance add a very 'bold visual' 🤣 aspect. Still not my thing, but I've always said, if it's good, it doesn't matter the genre. That set was good. Probably would see again. Actually went and said hello after the set and congratulated her on a semi-conversion.

To finish the night after tossing up between Kayps and Fool Nelson, I ended up with the latter as that meant I didn't have to walk back to The Bird. Fool Nelson are a three piece youngish, surfish band who look to have an audience already. (Lol, spotted my bassist stalker in the crowd - the Bloom ppl put on a good set but weren't clever enough to include Blush! when they needed a fill-in.) Pretty good rock as I remember, but I spent too much time trying to get good video from bad spots so wasn't concentrating fully on the music. Actually think I got one that's half-decent, which is a result given I was on the second floor at the time and they were below. Think I'd see again. Will know after I listen to the videos.

OMFG! What a night. Thank you Bloom organisers. Thank you The Bird, thank you Rechabite (also big thanks to the Freo hosts on Friday). No thanks at all to CoP Parking aHoles, but that's the way they like it, so that's ok too.

Massive thank you to all the amazing Perth bands and artists that spent the night entertaining a really good crowd. This state is embarrassingly rich with sublime rock and roll talent right now.