This review was originally written for The Brag about a month ago. Bridezilla are one of those rare acts whose mixture of youthful exuberance and sheer talent makes them so damn exciting.
Congratulations Bridezilla, you’ve finally graduated. Headlining on a Saturday night at the hasllowed Annandale Hotel is akin to taking the stage dressed in your ceremonial garb, shaking hands with some old geezer you’ve never seen in your life but judging by his mortar board he’s important and receiving that little piece of paper you’ve been working so hard for.
The teenage five-piece were a drawcard for so long because they were just that: teenagers. But they’ve transcended the image as we’ve come to realise that, tender age or not, they write some amazing songs which blend the moodiness of The Dirty Three with the flavour of PJ Harvey.
But before we got our teenage kicks, Sydney’s buzziest band Firekites were given main support duties. I love this band, I have to admit. I’d hazard a guess that the majority of the Annandale patrons had never seen Firekties live, and this set would have done nothing to endear them in the heart of these virgins. An excruciatingly long setup time marred the mood of crowd and band alike; Firekites' frustration palpable throughout the truncated set. The melodies were still beautiful, but Jane Tyrell’s absence was glaringly obvious. Go back in time and see them at their album launch at the Hoey. Or, check them out at the next gig. Just give them a chance, please!
No such excuses are needed for Bridezilla. OK, so they started slowly, taking a while to warm to the occasion. (Hey, it’s their graduation show after all. Nerves are forgivable.) The exception was the diminutive, eruptive Daisy Tulley on the violin. Goddamn she was rocking! She revelled in the moment, balancing precariously on the bar while she played that violin so badass that Warren Ellis would have knelt at her altar. She even undertook vocals in a brand new song, ‘If I Had a Child’. It was awkward and hesitant, but nonetheless promising.
‘Brown Paper Bag’ was the moment it all changed. Holiday Sidewinder’s husky voice is so emotive and endearing, uncommercial in a commercial way, if that makes sense? Whatever, ‘Brown Paper Bag’ is their golden tune. After that song, the whole band stepped up a notch and charged full pace towards the finish line. Millie Hall proves the saxophone can be played with gusto and bravado and not sound like a ‘80s throwback. Pia May plays understated guitar lines in her self-effacing way, but her presence is essential. Ditto Josh Bush, whose drumming is sadly overshadowed by the girls at the front, decked out in vintage fashions bought off eBay and retired drag queens.
The future is bright for Bridezilla. Their talent is abundant; their ideas fresh and electric. Rounding off the set with another newie, ‘Forth and Fine’, it was obvious that Bridezilla had graduated with flying colours. Kudos you, Bridezilla. Kudos you.
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