Review: Paradise Club

Adelaide’s indie scene is currently having a ‘what a time to be alive’ moment. Through the years, acts such as Towns, Pinkish Blu, Paradise Club and Dress Code have reactivated the alternative music community by producing what seems to be some of the best indie music coming out of Australia. There is a special feeling of pride and excitement to go see shows again, and Paradise Club at Lion Arts Factory is one I was very excited about.

Paradise Club has formed a passionate national following over the past couple of years since the release of their singles: Cap 2, Saturday Night, Away, and Heart of Gold. Now, celebrating their fifth release ‘Above Me’, PC hit the stage at Lion Arts Factory on Friday to finish off their ‘Above Me’ tour around Australia.

I saw Paradise Club play at Stonecutters 2018, and they left an incredibly lasting impression from their warm, wide sound, to the dada pants and sad pop facial expressions. In ways, this was different. I’m not sure if it was the cosier venue space or the additional year of shows, but there was a real sense of progression from the band. Gere indulged in the full room and took complete control of the atmosphere. Sure, the track pants were still alive and well, and the bassist is still the most comfortable player I’ve ever seen on stage, but they have shifted to a more upbeat energy to suit their gradual direction to a more pop-influenced sound. Their setlist provided all songs old, new, and everything in between. ‘Good for everyone,’ Gere said. And he wasn’t wrong, as the crowd displayed a wide variety of styles and age groups. Still, not only has their stage presence energized, but they have introduced more dynamic to their songs by little nuances such as pause breaks to emphasize the dreamy rhythm of their music.

One thing that hasn’t changed though is PC’s ability to control the tone of their instruments. Some of the best parts of PC live are the dream-like melodic guitars that chime through the mix and bass that gels with the drums so well that you can’t resist the inevitable head-bob. Pretty much the whole room were bobbin’ their heads when they played, and it didn’t matter if it was a song new or old.

Paradise Club is growing to a wider audience, and yet they still manage to stay true to the underground sound and aesthetic they have worked so hard to envision.

Review and Photography by Oliver White