Kiosk
LanFranchis, Sydney

Three is the best number when it comes to bands. Kiosk is a tight unit and each of the trio knows how to best utilise what they’ve got. So many bands just don’t have good vocalists, but Catherine’s got the singing thing down – and the stage presence to boot. There are raw guitars and bass but it all comes in the right places: there’s a level of restraint operating that’s skillful. It’s very efficient for such a young band. Less is more, even if it is noise-based. Taking influence from the likes of Huggy Bear, Royal Trux and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks they sound like the very urge to make music, youthfully unabashed.

Kiosk are fairly ubiquitous in the Sydney (and Australian) scene, but this was only the second time I’d seen them. The first time was in a theatre space and they sounded a lot more precise or refined. It was a strange way to see them, yet it worked. This gig at LanFranchis, as part of Carni-Chooch Festival, was infinitely better, and it made it clear how much more raw and danceable they can be; they had a terrific intensity going on. Up on stage this time and people danced and it was all rock & roll – the best shows are in warehouses and in this one, Kiosk stood out against an array of Australia’s best bands. Even just seeing them twice, it’s surprising how obvious their willingness to evolve and constantly improve is.

by Richard MacFarlane