Milk Bar, Friday April 17, 2026
We’re out in the suburbs on this rainy Djeran Friday night and luckily, we are inside and dry with a strong lineup of bands gracing the mammoth Milk Bar stage.
First up, The Off Set and the rotating 4-piece delivered the melody-rich jangles they do so well. The rotation is seamless between the three frontmen — switching instruments and singers while maintaining a great flow of catchy tunes. Zac Yusof’s turn was a particular highlight of the set, and the ear worming single The Places She Only Wished That She Could Go.
Next up Lake Mammoth, playing the lock-in jam-session-style psych rock we love them for. Some of the guitar sounds from the back-and-forth conversation between Jason and Steve are out of this world. Lighter on the usual percussion, the band were tight and suited the larger venue and lightshow. There are so many pockets through the sprawling set, the guys clearly relish jamming, and it comes across on stage
Little Things were a new experience for this reviewer, and once again, thank you Perth/Boorloo for continuing to turn out quality acts. These guys have some serious supergroup credentials, and it shows in the grungy, 90s rock-ish songs. The edge comes from Chris Cruickshank (krʊkʃæŋk) with his violin, playing it about as close to punk rock as the stringed instrument can be. It’s always nice to see a violin up there tearing it up with the rock band.
It was left to Sascha Ion and her Elements to close proceedings, and the diminutive riff demon did what she does best — firing off lick after lick in her understated but powerful way. The band played heavy and tight with an ease that camouflages what is seriously intricate instrumentation. With a range of songs from the folkier Lilliana to the grooving, riff-based The Groove, they just kept coming at you and building that bluesy alt-rock wall.
A seriously good lineup on a Friday night, and it’s good to see these bands out there playing regularly and putting out a steady flow of records. It shows, with a combination of bands, friends, and fans filling the venue. Stay off that dancefloor!