Concert Review: Methyl Ethel Make Elsewhere Dance To Darkness

Methyl Ethel’s Jake Webb has a voice that leaves you floored. Similar to Thom Yorke of Radiohead or William Butler of Arcade Fire, he stops you in your tracks with his capacity to wane and weather lyrics as if they were our moons during stormy nights, which, in a way, they are. A good song/ verse can be the light at the end of a tunnel, and, at Elsewhere, the light was bright. 

When we think of dance, we also think of highly rhythmic, heavy basslines or ornate synths. Yet, Methyl Ethel had the audience dancing from emotions.“Ruiner,” “Real Tight,” and “Trip To The Mains” were just a few of the tracks that hauntingly zipped through the atmosphere like an electric spell. Their capacity to make songs that feel fantastical and dark are what makes their music danceable; proving that feeling bad can spark as much movement as feeling good. The point is that people act upon what they feel deeply about, and Webb’s voice ignites sentiment. 

Vocally, Webb is so clear and potent, water would feel competitive standing next to him. From “Scream Whole” to “Ubu,” he emotes his lyrics like they are portals to other worlds. This allows his verses to feel adventurous and turn melodies into Legends of Zelda. The Perth native is not chatty, which allows the set to feel succinct and interconnected. He truly wants you to absorb the music with as little interruption, and, because their sound is so elaborate, you really feel taken somewhere. Thus, the audience bounced around as if Methyl Ethel was an electro-purge of feelings, which made their concert feel like a literal, emotional break.  For More Information On Methyl Ethel Click Here.