Live Review: Ball Park Music @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane with Cub Scouts & Yes You | 11 May 2012

Review by Lauren Sherritt
Word about the brilliance of Ball Park Music’s live show has swept the nation over the past year, as evidenced by their 180° tour selling out across many of the twenty shows and achieving no less for the final night in Brisbane.

The Hi-Fi filled quickly as BPM fans arrived to see support acts Cub Scouts and Yes You. Cub Scouts kicked off the evening, toting youthful charm in bucket loads and thrilling the audience with a remarkably well done cover of Destiny’s Child’s Jumpin’, Jumpin’. The dancing started with the band’s well-known track Evie, then the cheerful five-some departed the stage after giving yet more accolades to the upcoming Ball Park Music set.

Yes You took the stage and amped up the energy with their more electronic sound. The three-piece hit their mark with audience favourites Be There and Half Of It. Their live sound pleasingly strong and full. Yet again, as they ended their set the audience was let know what a treat the BPM show would be and the anticipation continued to grow.

As the curtains parted on Ball Park Music’s stage the audience was introduced to the band kitted out in a fashion that could be best described as ‘funeral themed prom party’. Black suits and skinny black ties adorned the men, while vocalist Jennifer Boyce wore a simple black dress. Their banner, black with white writing, and confetti streamer shooters helped create the vintage party atmosphere.

It is clear how beloved a band is by its fans by the attention to detail they pay to their songs, and by this measure Ball Park Music’s fans are clearly devoted. They knew when to clap, when to count, when to hold for a sudden silence and when to dance. The level of commitment shown by their fans is well earned by the band, whose ownership over the songs, stage and crowd and confidence in performance hinted at why they are now a must-see Australian act.

Lead singer Sam Cromack in particular performed with a rare and wild energy. With just a touch of (most probably deserved) arrogance, Cromack danced ferociously and sang charmingly through audience favourites iFly and Sad Rude Future Dude. On stage Cromack seemed at complete ease and had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. The rest of the band, too, grinned their way through the set with a playful energy, clearly knowing they were putting on a great show. It seemed they could do no wrong as the audience went wild for each new song they played.

Ball Park Music achieves the ultimate in music performance, not only playing impeccably but doing a stellar job of bringing their audience along with them. They shine with pride while they work and their pride is well deserved. A massively entertaining and clever band, Ball Park Music is in for a big future and one thing is for sure; their live shows will remain an experience not to be missed.

Review by Lauren Sherritt
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Photo by Amy Lee Freshwater