Tuesday night The Echo was packed to the brim for the return of Perth’s own Methyl Ethel. Touring in support of their third album Triage, the now five-piece project of singer Jake Webb played a night of dreamlike art-rock with washed out guitars and Webb’s pleading vocals leading the way through a set that included most of the songs from the new album.
The set also included fan favorites like “Ubu”, the band’s biggest single yet, and “No 28” from 2017 album Everything Is Forgiven.
The evolution from three-piece to five, with the addition of Jacob Diamond on guitar and Lyndon Blue on keys, has greatly expanded the band’s palette and the sound has evolved to a much more all-encompassing experience that builds from a soft ambience at the beginning of most songs to explosive choruses by the end, with Webb’s reflective and deep lyrics always at the center. There were few breaks between songs, Blue in particular seemed to really tie the whole night together, I don’t think he ever stopped playing.
Excellent show as usual from these guys. They seem to be on a steady rise so catch them next time at what I assume to be a much bigger venue. The Echo can’t hold them much longer.
Words and photos by Tim Aarons
