Live Review: Tired Lion, Food Court, Foam

It was a night full of activity, but the Geelong Cats weren't the only outsiders in Adelaide.

While it's hard for footy fans to see the bigger picture sometimes, Australia had a lot to be proud of, with Perth bands Tired Lion and Foam as well as Sydney's Food Court lighting up Jive in a way this writer hasn't seen before.

The night began with a thundering prelude of drums and bass, while a squealing guitar set the precedent for the rest of the night. Foam threw back to the '90s, harking back to noise-rockers Sonic Youth and grunge kings Nirvana, as well as drawing from Tool's use of time signatures. It was erratic, unpredictable and misunderstood. It's no surprise lead man Joel Martin rocked a Code Orange T-shirt while attacking his guitar in a flurry of noise and ambience. There was dissonance, but a certain closeness to it, Martin even admitting Adelaide felt close to home.

Food Court saw a change of pace, with colour and energy gracing the stage. Singer and guitarist Cristian Campano led us through the slacker pop-punk feel, with the other members exuding the same 'don't care' attitude. It was the fuzzy interludes that made the difference however, and when the instruments were let loose, heads really started to move. With their album out the same day, the sharing of a champagne celebration reminded us that we were all one big family that night.

With the rest of the world left at the venue door with the opening of the curtain, it was Tired Lion who kicked the most arse. They exploded onto the stage. Matt Tanner's lead tone was the real MVP, but it was Sophie Hope's command of the microphone that left no audience member behind as their set twisted and turned, hit after hit after hit. Following an origin story, they played the title track to their album Dumb Days. It embodied their sound and with the summer vibe hinting at an ironic tone, the song got more and more complex. After I Don't Think You Like Me and more recent Cinderella Dracula they became their own 'hard act to follow'.

They (technically) finished the encore but still weren't done, drummer Ethan Darnell that smashing into Blur's Song 2. While Perth often seems worlds away, it felt like a homecoming for Tired Lion.