Born Joy Dead @ Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane 01/09/2016

​Some time last year I walked into the Foundry making a bee-line for the bar, when the band on stage involuntarily drew me to the dance floor. I hadn’t a clue who it was but I subsided my thirst and stayed for the remainder of the set, nabbing the setlist to remember to look them up but instead shoved it in my pocket and forgot all about it. Classic me.
 
On Thursday night, I headed to Black Bear Lodge to check out a band I wasn’t too familiar with, and instantly recognised track names from the crinkled setlist now blue-tacked among others on my bedroom wall. I’d thankfully once again stumbled upon Born Joy Dead, a local indie pop outfit, and the sudden dose of serendipity would have quickly cranked the night into high gear if the main supports hadn’t already stepped on the gas.
 
A quintet of tie-dye and long hair, Muddy Chanter were all smiles and infectious charm and the initial reason for my excitement in heading along tonight. The Brisbane alt-rockers gave us a cohesive yet diverse sound; you’ll alternate from blissful sways to hair-whipping to excited jump-dancing (its a thing). Interview was the song of the night for me with catchy vocal melodies that encouraged crowd participation like the goddamn anthem that it was. It was house party vibes and you could tell the boys will be at this for a long time, smiles wide and energies high, even if they never play a larger venue. They don’t care, they’re happy to be there. That being said, Muddy Chanter have the overwhelming potential to sit alongside other anthemic genre-melders like Sticky Fingers and Ocean Alley.
 
Toe tappin’ and sing-a-longs were a common occurrence this evening. Born Joy Dead had gathered us here to celebrate their fresh tune Sourdough, a tasty addition to their repertoire and a banger in its own right. Tunes like Stones In My Shoes had a dreamy, sun-drenched haze à la Mac de Marco, and Hey Blood proved to a delightful indie-pop gem that packed a pu-u-u-u-u-unch*. I couldn’t help but think how much I wanted to see Born Joy Dead outdoors, with the sun on my skin and my arms in the air, annoying the person behind me by sitting on someones shoulders. Unsurprisingly, the band recently signed to Mucho Bravado, which will undoubtedly see them on their way to becoming a staple on your summer playlist. In the cosy four walls of Black Bear Lodge, there was nothing more encouraging than seeing the people who scored seats relinquish them in favour a good boogie.
 
Of notable mention was Black Bear Lodge’s new sound system - despite the speaker stacks towering either side of the tiny stage - which has transformed the small, intimate space into the ideal venue for the sonically inclined.
 
*Listen to the track, you’ll understand. 


Reviewer - Tianna Harris