PVT, Death Kit: Concert Review and Photos

Sunday night offered a lineup that was truly appropriate for the venue that is called Spaceland as of right now. With experimental Australian-based (and sometimes London) band, PVT, and local electro-synth pop band Death Kit opening, the start to the week was inexplicably bubbling with intricate, technological and melodic advances for those who attended.

Those who dared to venture out on their last night of the weekend didn’t get a low-key performance from either band. In fact, Sunday night provided profoundly almighty sets to accompany a great night cap.

Death Kit isn’t a band we’ve seen live many times and we love to support our local talent. When a band doesn’t play as often as the bands going through tour constantly do, a new performance is similar to a first performance that is just eager to make a great first impression. Lead vocalist, August Brown, was sure to perform a stellar set despite the underwhelming crowd in front of the stage and with that determination he and his band dove into some extremely inviting synth treats for the ears.

Formerly the band’s drummer in addition to being the vocalist, Brown’s availability to move around more freely benefited Death Kit’s sound. Forlorn yet effective lyrics paired with firm, romantic guitar chords and earth shattering synth lines in songs such as  “Devadasi” and “I Can Make You Love Me” made melancholy shockingly danceable. Brown’s cowbell banging and extra percussion also added a new depth to their electropop rock.

Death Kit may have been making a first impression on us, but this four-piece band shouldn’t have had too many worries. With enough energy for their chivalrously seductive lyrics to soar then fall softly enough to whisper in our ears, the bed of rhythms and textures made them an applaudable collective from the start.

When PVT, formerly PIVOT, took the stage to light up all their high-tech instruments and equipment, there was an immediate understanding that something simply defying was about to take place. As another band who we were fortunate enough to experience for the first time, this three-piece band did, indeed, go on to play a live set that was almost indescribably wonderful.

Although they were forced to drop the vowels from their original name, songs off their latest album, Church With No Magic, offered no loss in any sense on Sunday night. Their chilling sounds which ranged from aggressive math rock to intensely percussive electro to patient chanting were roaring bravery – and this was just scratching the surface.

Also, despite the title of their latest album having a religious association, a communal and general spirituality seemed to suit this band better. Secular or not, the bangs, the echos, the brewing of pop, rock and electronica all superbly brought a cleansing to our musical palettes in a kind yet supernatural nature.  Pushing margins and the space in between sounds made us ponder if this unrestrained experimental rock with an ethereal touch was meant to occur on a Sunday after all.

Check our photos out below!

Photography by Carl Pocket