Big Scary
Big Scary Review
By Melanie Scrafton
Image by Tahlia Russell
Melbourne Duo formed in 2006, Big Scary is Tom Iansek - guitar, vocals & piano, Jo Syme - drums, guitar & backing vocals. Somewhat impossible to accurately define as there style differs from tune to tune, so the only real description is Free Style, Genre - Non Specific, and talented.
We caught the Duo’s live performance at Capitol/Amplifier on 20th April. Supported by The Salvadors and Cow Parade Cow.
Amplifier Bar is one of Perth’s best live music venues, and for Big Scary it was full to capacity. Unlike most the bands Tahlia Russell and I review, we were on this occasion in no real danger of physical harm as the crowd were a peaceful group, packed in around the stage with the balance favoring the fairer sex. Not the usual majority demographic for live band crowds in our experience. Tom started the set with an eerie haunting tune ‘Lay Me Down’ followed directly with ‘Hello My Name Is’ with Jo joining in on drums. The duo is amazing, with Tom switching between guitars and keys, as the tracks require and Jo remaining on drums throughout this set. The material is diverse, slow gentle ballads, then vigorous energetic thumping tunes and then the Avant-guard, arrangement of ‘Bad Friends’ which they played following their current hit ‘Leaving Home’ from the album ‘Vacation’ that went down a storm with the crowd. The pair played 14 songs over an hour and previewed a few new tracks, which were received well by the crowd. They finished the set with Gladiator. Even if you have only heard the occasional track, on the radio or rage, they are well worth seeing, their love for music and performance is contagious. Their songs are written with skill and passion, and executed the same way. Tom and Jo present as simple and humble muso’s, who at he same time are massively creative, talented and emotive. You can tell the duo have a solid future in the music industry because you can see they will never tire of creating something new. They are brave in their arrangements and they seem to simply love exploring music. It’s as if becoming successful to them is like an added bonus, they wouldn’t be doing anything else anyway.
Set list:
Lay Me Down
Hello, My Name Is
Autumn
Mix Tape
Secrets
Phil Collins
Leaving Home
Bad Friends
Belgian Blues
Of Desire
Falling Away
Tuesday Is Rent Day
Purple
Gladiator
To hear ‘Leaving Home’ from the album ‘Vacation’ Click on the link below –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4GAK92u_f8
Discography
Apple Song Single 2008
The Mini EP 2009
At The Mercy of the Elements 2010
The Big Scary Four Seasons 2010
Vacation 2011
To see the band live then check the dates for the remainder of this tour -
April 24th (ANZAC Eve Public Holiday) - SOLD OUT
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Venue 03 9427 9198 www.cornerhotel.com
April 25th (ANZAC Day Public Holiday)
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Venue 03 9427 9198 www.cornerhotel.com
April 27th - SOLD OUT
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Moshtix 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au
April 28th
The Zoo, Brisbane
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Oztix 1300 762 545 www.oztix.com.au
Also Playing at - Groovin' The Moo
May 5 - BENDIGO (SOLD OUT)
May 6 - TOWNSVILLE
May 12 - MAITLAND (SOLD OUT)
May 13 - CANBERRA
May 19 - BUNBURY
To hear and see the guys click on the links below. All purchase info. is available on their website. Free Downloads available too –
Website http://bigscary.net/
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/bigscarymusic
Facebook http://facebook.com/bigscaryband
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/BigScaryTV
Shop http://bigscary.bigcartel.com/
Big Scary 2012
By Melanie Scrafton
Image by Tahlia Russell
Melbourne Duo formed in 2006, Big Scary is Tom Iansek - guitar, vocals & piano, Jo Syme - drums, guitar & backing vocals. Somewhat impossible to accurately define as there style differs from tune to tune, so the only real description is Free Style, Genre - Non Specific, and talented.
We caught the Duo’s live performance at Capitol/Amplifier on 20th April. Supported by The Salvadors and Cow Parade Cow.
Amplifier Bar is one of Perth’s best live music venues, and for Big Scary it was full to capacity. Unlike most the bands Tahlia Russell and I review, we were on this occasion in no real danger of physical harm as the crowd were a peaceful group, packed in around the stage with the balance favoring the fairer sex. Not the usual majority demographic for live band crowds in our experience. Tom started the set with an eerie haunting tune ‘Lay Me Down’ followed directly with ‘Hello My Name Is’ with Jo joining in on drums. The duo is amazing, with Tom switching between guitars and keys, as the tracks require and Jo remaining on drums throughout this set. The material is diverse, slow gentle ballads, then vigorous energetic thumping tunes and then the Avant-guard, arrangement of ‘Bad Friends’ which they played following their current hit ‘Leaving Home’ from the album ‘Vacation’ that went down a storm with the crowd. The pair played 14 songs over an hour and previewed a few new tracks, which were received well by the crowd. They finished the set with Gladiator. Even if you have only heard the occasional track, on the radio or rage, they are well worth seeing, their love for music and performance is contagious. Their songs are written with skill and passion, and executed the same way. Tom and Jo present as simple and humble muso’s, who at he same time are massively creative, talented and emotive. You can tell the duo have a solid future in the music industry because you can see they will never tire of creating something new. They are brave in their arrangements and they seem to simply love exploring music. It’s as if becoming successful to them is like an added bonus, they wouldn’t be doing anything else anyway.
Set list:
Lay Me Down
Hello, My Name Is
Autumn
Mix Tape
Secrets
Phil Collins
Leaving Home
Bad Friends
Belgian Blues
Of Desire
Falling Away
Tuesday Is Rent Day
Purple
Gladiator
To hear ‘Leaving Home’ from the album ‘Vacation’ Click on the link below –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4GAK92u_f8
Discography
Apple Song Single 2008
The Mini EP 2009
At The Mercy of the Elements 2010
The Big Scary Four Seasons 2010
Vacation 2011
To see the band live then check the dates for the remainder of this tour -
April 24th (ANZAC Eve Public Holiday) - SOLD OUT
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Venue 03 9427 9198 www.cornerhotel.com
April 25th (ANZAC Day Public Holiday)
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Venue 03 9427 9198 www.cornerhotel.com
April 27th - SOLD OUT
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Moshtix 1300 GET TIX (438 849) www.moshtix.com.au
April 28th
The Zoo, Brisbane
(supports: Geoffrey O'Conner & Mosman Alder)
Oztix 1300 762 545 www.oztix.com.au
Also Playing at - Groovin' The Moo
May 5 - BENDIGO (SOLD OUT)
May 6 - TOWNSVILLE
May 12 - MAITLAND (SOLD OUT)
May 13 - CANBERRA
May 19 - BUNBURY
To hear and see the guys click on the links below. All purchase info. is available on their website. Free Downloads available too –
Website http://bigscary.net/
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/bigscarymusic
Facebook http://facebook.com/bigscaryband
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/BigScaryTV
Shop http://bigscary.bigcartel.com/
Big Scary 2012