After a few false starts over the last year to get the show on the road, Died Pretty are back on the stage and ready for action for a weekend of shows at The Factory in Marrickville. Joining them on the journey is Sydney band Fabels.

Fabels

Fabels are Ben Aylward (Guitar) and Hiske Weijers (Bass/vocals), that are pushing the envelope of experimental electronica. For tonight’s performance, they added a third member (Tim Powles) on drums and electriccy bits to bump up the experience.

Their set tonight was all about the atmospherics. Light on stage was basically a series of psychedelic projections that enhanced the ethereal soundscapes that made up the lush aural offerings of the show.

Songs were underpinned by droning guitar and built up by layer upon layer upon layer of sound, topped off by Hiske’s haunting vocals – almost as spoken word – essentially transforming the experience through each tune as a rollercoaster of a journey; building and lifting….…then coming crashing down in an explosion of sound.

Put some headphones on and immerse yourself in their latest tune “Waiting“, here.

Died Pretty

As Died Pretty made their way onto the stage, there was plenty of crowd love and appreciation. Looking like they had been finally been let out of lockdown, the band was ramped and ready to go.

After a little bit of a shaky vocal start, Ron Peno was keen to hit the straps and showed us what he had with a belting, crackingly epic version of Desperate Hours – all 8 minutes of it. From that point on it was the full business. Ron hitting the power notes and dancing and jigging around the stage like a man possessed.

The band were in top form, with Brett Myers slinging out riffs and shredding solos, transporting the room back to the early 90’s. Crowd faves D.C., Satisfied and Sweetheart got a few people out of their COVID safe seats and started some random dancing through the room – quickly chased by COVID marshals. But it was too late, the ground swell had started and the crowd was up and hit the front of the venue for the end of the set with an electric and powerful version of Winterland . Standing and dancing was definitely back in a big way!

A little breather for the band and then Ron and Brett came back on to start an encore with a stunning, acoustic version of Everybody Moves that stilled the house. Joined by the rest of the band, they cranked the power back up and had the floor bouncing for The Rivers and Godbless to finish up a cracker of a show that left an unstoppable grin on everyone’s faces.

Take a trip back and have a listen here to put a smile on your face.