Behind a hidden bookshelf door on the top floor of the Rochester Hotel resides the Rochy Book Club. On Saturday nights this secret room takes on the identity known as the Black Night Crash, transforming into a band room filled with young trendy types, eager to get their weekly dose of live indie rock tunes.
With an ever-booming bar and a pool table taking up what little spare space the room has to offer, the intimate setting allows for only a minimal audience, making the cozy and friendly vibes thrive to the extremes.
Local indie-rock outfit The Universal began the night’s entertainment, enticing the mostly still crowd to get their groove on. Complete with a Beatles guitar strap, faded denim and rocky tunes to match, the four-piece’s catchy collection set them somewhere between the sounds of The Arctic Monkey’s attractive indie rock and the harder, rockier guitar sections of The Strokes. Pleasing to the ears, to say the least.
Although it seemed the support act might give them a run for their money, once headliners We The People hit the stage there was indeed no comparison. The already full room burst with energetic and enthused fans, as though they’d literally appeared out of nowhere.
If you ask someone if they’ve heard of We The People, chances are they’ll say yes, when in fact they probably actually haven’t. The Melbourne four-piece hasn’t been around long, they just have a name that sounds like something or someone you’ve heard of. Luckily, the indie rockers’ music is just as memorable and striking as their name; once they’ve graced your ears with their uplifting tunes, it’s likely you’d like it to stay that way.
If vocalist James Seymour’s voice isn’t enough to capture your immediate attention, then look no further than the incredibly catchy rock/pop guitar riffs, exciting drumbeats, electronic layers, and even a cowbell here or there.
The four-piece led the passionate audience through a number of differing tempo songs. From the slower arm-swaying moments, to the upbeat, jumping-up-and-down, highly energetic ones, We The People had all bases covered.
They played songs from their 2012 EP, My Castle, with crowd favourites such as “Trees” and “Birds Together (Greed)”, and even performed a number that is yet to be named. Seymour rapped his way through a section of 50 Cent’s “Go Shorty It’s Your Birthday”, before inviting The Universal frontman Evan Jones back to the stage to join in the next song, as well as his younger brother Ben Seymour who pulled out some sweet saxophone licks.
The crowd went wild, considering the small setting, during We The People’s most popular hit “Superstars”. One particularly enthusiastic punter climbed atop the shoulders of another – the kind of audience reaction you expect at a festival, not in a book club venue - hence, the fervent nature of the gathering was well and truly evident.
Upon conclusion of their 40-minute set a roaring “one more song” was chanted from the crowd, and so returned the foursome with an exceptional and unique cover of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Niggas In Paris”.
If anything, one thing is obvious: We The People need to play in bigger band rooms, to bigger crowds. If they continue to pull audiences as eager and enthusiastic as the one on this particular evening at the Rochy, then hell are these indie-rock fellas going places.
