Peach Fur and Friends @ Surfers Paradise Beer Garden- 13/10/2018

The Surfers Paradise Beer Garden was heralding a free show for those interested in some pure unadulterated rock music. I came along with the intention of getting by ears fried by the finest young sounds this city has to offer. 
​
Starting the night off with a relatively new young guitar band, Love Banana. A twee/psych influenced garage pop group, start the night off with a high energy set which consists of flashes of breakneck punk beats and rose coloured, sunshine lyrics about the “World being a hot thick milkshake’ and the strong presence of dreams. A strong set from a local band making a new fan in the process.
 
Next Echowaves brought the continuing psych influence however shaded with strong 60’s pop influences. Smart harmonies and sunshine pop melodies flowed through their song ‘Do you still think of me?’. They concluded their fuzzy set with a cover of The Easybeats, classic ‘Sorry’ and an ultra jammed out version of Tame Impala’s, ‘Half Full Glass of Wine’ with synth/guitar lines skittering all over the heavy psych jam to conclude a highly entertaining mesh of 60’s genre flavours and modern day jangle pop.

​Electric Zebra tore on into the night with a heavier sense of alternative rock and punk influences. Playing tracks of their New EP ‘You’re Sinking’, divulging into the philosophical questions of what to do when you are 20-something, over thinking and asking questions of this insane life. “I found myself thinking, I can’t be the only one’ resonating through the crowd, as the surging of guitar waves, bursts of noise between quiet reflectivity and loud answers.  A truly tip top performance from a tip top rock band in full flight ahead of what’s to come.

It was then time for Peach Fur to take centre stage and offer the psych rock sermon on which we had all been waiting for. The beer infused sling of Denny’s voice guides much of Peach Fur’s music. Between the hollers, shouts and screams the band backs him in every vocal endeavour he takes. Full blown energy and the constant Cheshire smiles from the bassist reinforce the great vibes reflecting from the band to the audience. Each song presented new ideas between reggae and psych rock gems with the highpoint being ‘War Dogs and Filthy Pigs’ sounding like Fidlar and Tame Impala had a child and raised it with Bob Marley as the cool uncle, just to give you an idea on how this track may sound to you. I was physically exhausted after this set, as Peach Fur had lead with their hearts on their sleeves and sweat on their guitars. A dutiful combo to say the least.
 
It may have been freezing and cold outside, but inside the Beergarden it felt like summer had come early and that there was not such a thing as bad weather, only great music flying from the speakers into the souls of everyone lucky enough to be in that room.   ​

​Words by Ryan Stegman