“I’m supposed to say something funny, but we’re filming tonight, so I’m nervous.”
In 2010, Tom Iansek – AKA Tom Scary, of Australian indie-pop outfit Big Scary – began working on a solo project under the pseudonym Dads. Birthed out of an ambition to remain on his creative toes in between Big Scary album cycles, Iansek went on to release two records under the project: 2011’s ‘Man of Leisure’ and 2014’s ‘About Face’, evolving from the name Dads to #1 Dads in the process. In March, the accomplished musical mastermind announced a national tour that would mark the end of the #1 Dads journey, with plans to redirect his focus back onto Big Scary. On Thursday night, we made our way to the third of five sold out Oxford Art Factory shows to witness Iansek and friends hit the stage for what could would be the one of the last times.
Fresh-faced Slum Sociable took care of the support slot for the evening, filling the room with their low-fi jazz hop tunes. Having only officially released one song in the haunting, cinematic “Anyway” – produced by Tom Scary himself – the lads won the crowd over with their youthful exuberance, mainly exerted by the front man. With tambourine in hand, he led the band through a set of unreleased tracks, prancing and gyrating his way around the stage and into our hearts. The solid display from the lads made way for the main event…
Walking out briskly in a nonchalant fashion, Iansek and his band mates made their way onto the stage, gently smiling as they picked up their instruments and the hollow introductory drum line of ‘About Face’ opener “My Rush” began to sound. Iansek’s accompanying forbearing guitar strums and solemn whisper followed suit, sending the crowd into a state of polite silence and admiration. “Hello, and welcome everybody to the dance fest, the dance-a-thon…”, he sarcastically announced, opening up the theme of awkward banter that would creep into the set each time Iansek needed to tune his guitar between songs. The emphatic “Nominal” followed, as Iansek wasted no time in opening up his box of crowd favourites, before putting down his guitar and moving onto the keyboard to treat day one fans to a track from #1 Dad’s Dad’s first album.
It was at this point that the show seemed to transition into Act II, as Iansek welcomed collaborator and friend Tom Snowden onto the stage for a downright mesmerising performance of ‘About Face’ standout “Return To”. Iansek’s gorgeous piano and pulsating synth was crushed in the palms of Snowden as soon as his cinematic, shape-shifting voice began to bellow out the song’s opening lyrics, eliciting roaring cheers and ovation after projecting the first two lines. A falsetto-backed solo performance of “Blood Pt. 2” followed and the guest appearances continued; Ainslie Wills and her guitar made their way onstage for the melodically sound “Soldier On”. Met with sways, bops and nods of approval, mobile phones were raised in the dozens from the crowd to film the song’s performance. Drawing near to the end of the set, Iansek shared the inspiration behind “Camberwell”, a track that sees him rapping more than singing about the suburb where his first share house resided in Melbourne. A captivating sax solo from the multi-talented Angus Rigby later and it was time for their last song, indicating that they wouldn’t be returning for an encore. Iansek then invited Snowden (much to the delight of the crowd) and Wills to return for #1 Dad’s vocally decadent ‘Like A Version’ of FKA Twigs‘ sensual “Two Weeks”. Lined up in front of a soft rainbow backdrop, Tim Snowden led the gang through the transformative cover, hitting that jaw-dropping falsetto like nobody’s business.
Humbly smiling and bowing down to one of many sold out rooms that they had faced on this tour, #1 Dads was done for another night, drawing one step nearer to the end of its five year journey. Many would agree that Iansek is one of Australia’s most talented musicians, proudly wearing the notches of two successful projects on his accomplished belt. And even though we can find solace in the fact that we’ll still have him in the form of Big Scary, needless to say, #1 Dads will be sorely and dearly missed.
Our photographer Jordan also came along for the ride with his camera. Here’s what he ended up with…