Gold Fields

What better way to end the working week than with ice cold cider on a hot, sultry night and some fresh young talent for entertainment. Ballarat five-piece Gold Fields played Jive as part of their first national headliner tour since February with Triple J favourites, Millions and artsy-electronica act, glisk.

Opening to a small, quiet crowd, Adelaide’s glisk delivered a decidedly gentle start to the night. Playing without bandmate Anny Duff, Mike Radz had to work the whole one-man-band routine, singing vocals and cueing instrumental samples. Glisk’s mix of M83 style ambient electronica and soft vocals sounded great but did little to rouse the tiny crowd. Radz was working hard and seemed to be enjoying himself, but would have benefited from having Duff on stage with him.

As the crowd started to roll in, Brisbane act Millions took to the stage. The band is young, having formed about six months ago, but they play like any well-established act. Their retro riffs and infectious indie beats drew the crowd away from their bar stools and toward the stage. While vocalist Dominic Haddad’s mumbling between songs was frustrating to listen to, they made up for it with a solid repertoire of garage pop tunes and a brilliant mid-set cover of The Beatles’ “Do You Want to Know a Secret”. Finishing with “Guru” the band had the crowd loosened up and having a great time, proving they are definitely ones to watch.

After the hype Millions created, it felt like ages before Gold Fields hit the stage to keep the party going. They didn’t disappoint, opening with a bang as their drum and percussion duo took energy levels to an unexpected high. From the beginning, Gold Fields looked like they were having a lot of fun and the crowd loved every minute of it. Their music really shines in a live setting where the funk, groove and percussion elements can really stand out.

Gold Fields’ eclectic mix of dance beats, tribal drums, loose bass and funky guitar riffs is absolutely magnetic. The band is so utterly cohesive, there’s no need for showmanship as they let the music speaks for itself. Their cover of Underworld’s “Born Slippy” was perfectly executed, with a seamless transition into “Treehouse”. Finishing with a pumped-up rendition of “Moves”, Gold Fields left the crowd buzzing with excitement. The band’s boundless enthusiasm and confidence is refreshing and exciting and their live performance certainly lives up to the hype.

–  Lauren Pitman.

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