Live Review: Spacey Jane
Here Comes Everybody Australian Tour
5 July 2022 at the RAC Arena, Perth
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photos by Sheldon Ang Photography
He jumps, spins and kicks like a possessed capoeira practitioner in the streets of Sao Paolo. Screaming ensues from the hysteria of ten thousand, propagating across the echo chamber of the biggest venue they have graced. Toing like an 80’s rocker, the guitarist springs his neck backwards, flipping a forest of hair in gravity defying motion like in a scene of a shampoo ad. The musical athlete then paces towards the drummer, fleetingly sharing the highest point of the stage and momentarily stares afar into the upper reaches. As the backlight shines, he raises his guitar in salute to the believers, carving a silhouette of an iconic statuesque that will etch in the memories of revellers long after tonight.
Welcome to the big stage. Our time has come.
It wasn’t long ago that Spacey Jane headlined an indoor rock festival in Perth, sharing the stage with several local bands. Despite the boisterous fanfare and with the surety of their debut album Sunlight which peaked at number two, the stadium was at less than desirable capacity– but we’ll put that on Covid. Several months later, they played at Freo Social and several nightclubs across Perth.
Tonight’s premier to a near capacity crowd at the RAC Arena in Perth is a sign of bigger things to come, literally. Since the release of the second album Here Comes Everybody which debut at pole position, the band has toured across Europe and parts of Australia. Following tonight, they will continue their road to stardom through multiple sold out performances, including five nights in Melbourne’s Forum Theatre before embarking across major cities in Canada, America and Mexico. Judging by the duplicated sold-out performances including a couple in New York (where their digital poster is displayed at Times Square), it can be assumed that even Spacey Jane has underestimated the enormity of their own popularity, where only Perth got the venue right. Inevitably, fans can expect their next tour will be performed at arenas and stadiums exclusively, given the band’s meteoric rise to stardom in the last three years.
So, as the lights dipped into midnight blue, a rambunctious roar erupted with a deafening pierce, the kind of hysteria that’s usually reserved for international rock stars and mega boybands. The setlist was sparked by Sitting Up from their latest album, then Straight Face and Lunchtime. Judging by the backup vocalists in their thousands, the fans’ obsession and interpretation for Spacey Jane music is religiously enshrouded.
Caleb Harper mirrored the stage presence of the modern pop or indie rock frontman, the kind that resonates with the Gen Z and the culture of inclusivity, mental health and love; hair free from products, wearing a stylistic attire of a white textured singlet and flared pants, and hips shaking side to side to the cadence of sonic rhythm. Despite physically reticent for most parts, the vocalist’s stage enigma was tangible, oozing the charm and charisma that’s every bit tantalising, drawing an unfettered admiration from teens and twenty something patrons. Looking barely out of school, drummer (and band manager) Kieran Lama was focused, controlling the tempo with a bridled ferocity of a journeyman, while bassist Peppa Lane shines the feel good, best friend aura while providing the rhythm to lugubrious topics of depression, heartbreaks and despair.
But the sombre lyrics were lost in the rollercoaster animation of guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu…perhaps it was an expressive manifestation of the lyrics and music. The twenty two year old is the Angus Young of Spacey Jane. With the flowing hair and frog like jumps, Ashton may have stolen the limelight on some occasions – not that it was intentional, given the brilliance of each performer negating any thoughts of individual egos. The band gelled exceptionally well musically, and we get the sense that their on-stage chemistry extends beyond the realm of Spacey Jane.
The first note of every track – whether sparked from the guitar or drums, drew excitement from the crowd, reflecting the obsessive capitulation of the band’s discography. The biggest roar – although it seems every track of the 18-song set list drew an unbridled fanfare, was probably on “old” favourites Booster Seat and Skin, before closing the night with Head Cold and Lots of Nothing from the two respective albums.
“We are from Perth, and this place will always be our home”.
Welcome to the big stage of world music. Your time has come.
The writer would like to thank Spacey Jane and Positive Feedback for the Press Accreditation. Click here for info and tickets to upcoming shows.
About the Writer/Photographer: Sheldon Ang is the founder of Sheldon Ang Media. Despite the recent launch in May, SAM has photographed and reviewed the most sought-after arena/stadium concerts in Perth, namely The Kid LAROI, Louis Tomlinson (One Direction), Guy Sebastian, Glass Animals, Gang of Youths, Amy Shark and SYNTHONY 2022 – with many more to come.
Sheldon was also the Chief Photographer and Principal Writer for “Around the Sound” where he had interviewed over 50 artists including members of KISS, Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, INXS, Jefferson Starship and Europe. That site has been removed from cyberspace by their founder in April.
