Possibly the most aptly titled release of the year…
Just going to float it out there straight off the bat that DOWNGIRL might be the shiniest hidden gem in the Australian music scene right now. Listening to the Sydney quartet’s debut EP Manic today has confirmed my suspicions that not only do they have a uniquely sardonic take on modern-day Australia, but also they’re kinda messing with us in a musical sense, playing with our expectations and subverting the middle-of-the-road rock tropes that give the genre a bad name.
It’s clear that the band are versed in the likes or Nirvana, Hole, (early) QOTSA and so on, but every time that you think you can hear the 90s bubbling up in one of their tunes they switch it up, ensuring that there are no boring bits and keeping us squirming as we listen along. They’re a band on a mission to be absorbed and command our attention.
“The title, Manic, was lifted from our single of the same name. We chose it as it encapsulates our state of being when the band was in its infancy,” says the band’s Lou Harbridge. “This EP is a diary, charting our progress from our beginnings in the bedroom when we were physically separated to now, being in each other’s bloody pockets!”
Among the previously released singles, their track ‘Body’ is easily one of the EP highlights. Here we see the combination of playful riffery, wailing vocals and a splash of self loathing build towards a massive outro that will leave you feeling completely rinsed (which we can assume is the whole point, right?).
In summary, DON’T SLEEP ON DOWNGIRL. They’ll be hitting the road throughout September and October in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Canberra, the Hunter Valley, and more. Dates below:
DOWNGIRL Upcoming Shows
September 23 The Basement, Canberra w/ Glitoris
October 1 – Off The Rails Festival, Marrickville | w/ Amyl and the Sniffers, Mark of Cain, Private Function +
October 7 – Melbourne Pier Festival, Melbourne w/ Hope D +
November 17 – Red Rattler (EP Launch), Sydney w/ Social Strangers, Creeping Jenny & The Causeway
November 24 – Hamilton Station Launch (EP Launch), Newcastle w/ Where’s Jimmy & Goon Gremlins
