There is something about Dark Mofo’s ability to bring together some of the most amazing artists that many people have never heard of that has almost certainly become a trademark of the festival.
…..and so it was on the Sunday when Melbourne punk rock outfit, The Peep Tempel were ably supported by Hobart’s own post-punk sensations, TEENS, and South Australia’s The Empty Threats.
First up were TEENS, who currently are at the cutting edge of a host of great young bands from down under Down Under with their fantastic brand of fast-paced, DIY psychedelic post-punk. I get regularly amazed at the number of people who tell me they are only catching this band for the first time and who are highly impressed with what they see and hear
Next up were the highly-touted six-piece, The Empty Threats, who brought their high-energy and quirky brand of post-punk replete with saxophone to the stage of Altar Bar, with the band quickly filling the floor with a frenzied electricity that buzzed throughout the growing crowd.
Finally, we were treated to the main event, with The Peep Tempel taking to the stage and immediately engaging the crowd with the anthemic opener, ‘People Don’t Get You’ then ramping up the pace with a couple of further songs from their debut, self-titled album from 2012. The band then continued to draw material from across their full catalogue of three LPs and one EP. Lead singer and guitarist, Blake Scott enjoyed some playful back and forth with the crowd throughout the evening centering around topical, and controversial subject matter such as the proposed AFL stadium in Hobart.
Nevertheless, the night was about the music, and The Peep Tempel certainly brought the heat. Rayguns, Modern Professional and the songs of Lester Moore (a character who appears throughout the Tempel catalogue) were all enthusiastically lapped up by the crowd, however they absolutely erupted when perhaps the band’s most well known song, Carol, began to play.
To say the night was a success would be a gross understatement. It was a night of some of the finest independent music from across the country, and one which will not be forgotten by all of those who were in attendance. Kudos again must go to the program organizers from the Darklabs team who put together this superb night.
The Peep Tempel Gallery:
The Empty Threats Gallery:
TEENS Gallery:
All images: ©fullonrockphotography/Andrew Fuller
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