After a long day of being hot and sexy journalists in the Honi office, we jumped on the 423 bus to Hyde Park, and then the 333 to Bondi Junction, and then the 379 to Beach Road Hotel. Though it sounds long, the journey felt quick with the rumble of gossiping, talking about the ‘bendy bus’, and our fascination with the bats flying above us. In our own silly way, it was our ‘wind down’ time from countless meetings and looking at words all day.
Once we got to the Beach Road Hotel, with its crowded ground floor that was full of sports fans and beachy outfits, the atmosphere was instantly pleasant. Everyone was enjoying a pint of Stone and Wood, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. We headed to the bar to order our own ‘loose juice’ — a nice glass of rosé. We sat for a minute, inhaling the chaos in the air.
It is difficult to explain how and why the vibe in the upstairs section was so different to below, though we suspect that it was due to the quietness of it all. After pouring our drinks in plastic cups to head upstairs, we were greeted with a calming, low-lit open space. A red, luminous sign saying “Lit Lounge” was placed conveniently at the top of the stairs, presumably for all the avid Instagram story-ers like us (we did, in fact, put this on our stories). A modern, elevated bar is placed in the middle of the room. It was a very breathable space with a huge amount of room out in the smoking area.
After an hour of soft beach rock waiting music, The Vovos took the stage at 8pm. The Vovos, a Naarm-based alt-rock band, had a playful stage presence. While performing their punk tunes, they got the crowd dancing, head-bobbing, and smiling. It was refreshing to see a group that oozed true punk; they were captivating, bratty and distinctive — something that is often missing from the local punk scene. The band have supported Naarm-local bands like Zig Zag and Pinch Points, alongside nationwide loved artists like Skeggs. It will be no surprise when we see them headlining world tours in the future.
Once the music slowed and the crowd dispersed for bathroom breaks between acts, we went to grab ourselves another drink. We chilled out in the smoking area for what felt like a year. The timing between acts stuck strictly to an hour in-between, veering away from the traditional 30-45 minute wait between support and main acts. Though it was fitting with the type of music Babe Rainbow are known for, there is a fine line between nonchalance and a lack of care. Such a long wait slowed down anticipation and excitement that is usually prevalent, and valued, at gigs.
Babe Rainbow are known for their 1960s style psychedelic rock. The Byron Bay-based band can be pictured as a bunch of your typical surf-rock, laid back retro dudes. Implementing touches of spirituality and grounding elements in their music, it was a great environment of slowly letting go of yourself in the crowds. Though their on-stage imagery is cool, calm and collected, in our opinion, the best way to listen to Babe Rainbow is with your eyes closed, swaying, and trying your best to hum a harmonisation.
Though the long wait between acts was unexpected, Babe Rainbow were successful in teaching us true patience in a world of instantaneous entertainment.
