Perth Australian psych-rock Psychedelic Porn Crumpets took to the small stage in the hull the boat of the sold-out Bristol Thekla to a hero’s welcome on Saturday, August 27th. However, no longer was this a five-piece band, but placed on a stool at the front of the stage with his own personal mic and stand …was Rodney the plastic tortoise (making his debut).
Rodney really started to steal the show with chants of ‘RODNEY RODNEY!’ in-between songs from the rowdy crowd. Rodney took it all in his stride and remained cool and calm throughout, seeming unfazed by all this rock ‘n’ roll going on around him.
“Tally-Ho” kicked things off with a thumping track from 2021 album Shyga! The Sunlight Mound that saw everyone in the boat was bouncing as we set sail, with Jack McEwan lead singer/guitarist in his long dark locks leading the sing along.
The temperature inside the venue resembled that of a sauna and just standing still saw the pores purging the body toxins. This was like no other health spa! Bang! We were off again at relentless pace with “Bill’s Mandolin” from the 2019’s And Now for the Whatchamacallit,which saw Luke Parish guitarist joining McEwan in delivering the vocals of this big fuzzy riff-laden psych rock tune. Danny Caddy, the drummer laying down the perfectly timed beats from someone who knows his craft, after all, as he has been gigging since the age of 14 and seemed to be the only one not sweating.
The Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are tight as anything, which is credit to the bass player who was introduced by McEwan as ‘Jamie from Birmingham,’ who stepped in the help the band out after their regular bass player was unable to travel. Three days it took Jamie to learn the songs and there he was playing and looking the business on stage.
The Psychedelic Porn Crumpets were promoting the latest album Night Gnomes, but surprisingly only played two songs from this album were played with them having great reviews from all the music press. It is the bands fifth record, with many claiming it to be their best yet, and judging by the love shown by their largely younger audience, this is a band with a loyal following on the edge of something special.
There was a party atmosphere with the audience pushing the band further. There was plenty of mutual chat between songs, and you could see how much the band appreciated the energy given off by the sold-out crowd, despite the sauna conditions. You thought that after a few songs the band and the audience would have to mellow out a bit, but there was none of that, as both came together putting on a relentless high-octane performance throughout.
Crowd favourite “Found God in a Tomato”brought one of the loudest cheers of the night with its rolling guitars, and Chris Young on the keyboard bringing an almost over indulgent ‘prog rock’ vibe. There were certainly nods to Pink Floyd and others who came before them, which was no bad thing.
By the time the band had been through a handful of songs, the shirts were off, with McEwan officially announcing the gig as the sweatiest in history, and asking if anyone had any oxygen available? Collapsing was a possibility, declared by the lead singer, but they just kept going. As did the audience, who pogoed on at times, creating a big void in the centre before bouncing in again and the first crowd surfer took to the air before crashing onto the floor.
There was a rendition of “Happy birthday” for the sound engineer, and all too soon Jack McEwan announced the last song of the night and another crowd favourite “Keen for Kick Ons?”. But not before acknowledging the crowd and saying it had been the best show of not just the year, but possibly ever. Judging by the smiles from the band and audience, who could have argued?
They left the stage, and no one would have blamed them for calling it a night due to the heat, but The Thekla crowd wanted more chanting for ‘ONE MORE SONG!’ The band dually obliged, with well-deserved cold bottles of beer in hand and raising a glass to everyone and delivered a rousing headbanging version of “Cornflake” from their 2016 debut High Visceral Pt 1, and left stage to first bumps to those in the front row. “Midnight, The Stars and You” by Ray Noble and his Orchestra played as we spilled out onto dry land again drenched in sweat but at least able to breath in the night air.
Really recommend catching the band live and they can still be seen in the U.K. before returning to Europe to play some gigs into September.
Setlist
Tally-Ho
Bill’s Mandolin
Lava Lamp Pisco
Mundungus
The Tale of Gurney Gridman
(instrumental)
Found God in a Tomato
November
Mr. Prism (with “Bulls on Parade” Outro)
Acid Dent
Hymn for a Droid
Keen for Kick Ons?
Encore:
Cornflake
