Super Wild Horses - Golden Plains

Oh, Meredith/Golden Plains early riser slot, you’ve sure been good to me over the years. When I needed to wake up, you’ve jolted me back to life like a pair of defibrillators with sets by Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Snowman. When I needed to get psychedelic, maaannn, you gave me Tame Impala. When I needed some spiritual healing, you delivered The Devastations. And when I needed a hug, Luluc’s softly sung harmonies and beautiful arrangements embraced me like an old friend.

It’s also proven to be the “Midas Slot” for those aforementioned bands: Eddy Current and Tame Impala have ascended up the bill over the years (the former “headlining” last year’s Meredith, the latter playing today at 7pm); Snowman and The Devastations have topped our annual Critics Poll; and Luluc have won over fans in North America, so much so they’ve decided to move there.

This morning, it was Super Wild Horses’ turn to live up to expectations – they recently played a run of shows with The Drones and have a song in a national advertising campaign for Bond’s – and they didn’t disappoint. The rap on them in some quarters is that they’re nothing more than two Frankie covergirls playing simplistic garage rock with minimal skill. It’s total bullshit, of course. They’re not Lita Ford and Sheila E, but they’re hardly The Shaggs either. Their harmonies and drumming may be slightly off-kilter, but it’s part of their appeal, and they’re not nearly as sloppy as their hastily recorded debut EP suggests.

‘What Started The Noise’ from that 7” is an early highlight, but it’s their new material that whets the appetite for an upcoming debut album (out through venerable Melbourne indie Aarght! sometime this year). Perhaps it’s the hangover from last night’s Pavement/Dinosaur Jr double-header, but I detect a distinct ’90s feel to their jagged riffs and shouty Riot Grrrl vocals. At other times, they come across like a less boring version of Los Angeles’ No Age.

While dwarfed by the Supernatural Amphitheatre – surely their biggest stage yet – the duo pummel the steadily building crowd with wonderful shards of noise. In just a few minutes, someone will deliver a lecture about how the ear processes music. Mine, of course, will still be ringing.

by Darren Levin