The smoke-filled sky created a red glow over Perth as we sat upon Red Hill and its perfectly placed auditorium. The warm afternoon air, the chill vibe of the crowd, and the hypnotizing red setting sun almost instantly proved the 47-minute drive to the venue very worthy.

Cold Meat started their set without any warning or apology, making me jump, and others around me jump up to start headbanging to the girl band’s unforgiving punk rock noise. Vocalist Ashley Ramsey demonstrated a whole heap of attitude, her angry voice echoing like a dictator over the growing crowd. Illuminated by blue for the entirety of their set — Cold Meat is an icy and dominating yet anxious live act that wreaked absolute havoc to open the night.

Next, local band Pond was greeted on stage by a roar of cheers and applause from the audience, provoking frontman Nick Allbrook to exhibit his iconic charisma and seductive guitar skills with his Bowie-like vocals and movements. He then went on to bust out a flute solo like magic, showcasing everything the band is about; exquisite elegance, psychedelic surprises and a lively presence on stage. ‘Sweep Me Off My Feet’ particularly put a spring in my step as I later jogged down to join the mosh — which at this point was expanding beyond the ground level and up into the amphitheatre seats.

Also performing Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’ as their Like a Version, Pond defines new mixed with old; same same but different. Pond’s sound is refreshingly new, but simultaneously there was something comfortably nostalgic about their live act that made me feel like I was jamming to an 80’s rock tape from Dad’s garage. By far a highlight to see live.

The much anticipated Mac DeMarco arrived on stage with none other than ‘Duel of the Fates’ from Star Wars playing in the background (which I would not have recognised but for my nerdy friends). Prior to this show, I heard heaps of talk about DeMarco being extremely entertaining to see live, as, to say it bluntly, he does a lot of stupid things on stage.

I was not let down.

The audience went into absolute mayhem when DeMarco did not one, but two shoeys in the midst of his set, I was also impressed by his handstands, microphone swinging and throwing and the casual smoking of darts that were thrown generously by the crowd onto the stage.

Making up Russian, Spanish and bogan personas between songs and just not really giving a damn as he plays impeccably with his band — it’s hard not to fall in love with DeMarco’s careless yet intense live presence.