*the following review can also be read at musicfeeds.com.au

photograph by ashley mar for musicfeeds. check more out here.

out of all of the big day out sideshows, it was vampire weekend that i was undoubtedly the keenest being for. and now, after seeing their vibrant and victorious live set (away from near 46-degree heat) i’m the happiest and delighted being.

arriving in perfect time, the lights dimmed and sures took to the stage. i last saw sures as support for the rubens last april and, to be honest, was much less than impressed. so hearing they were vampire weekend’s support, i was eager to see how nine months might have improved their show.

i was pleasantly surprised. they didn’t appear as the young, un-tuned, unsure sures as they did that night, but were more comfortable, settled and, by song three, much, much stronger. those unison yell-vocals came out us as with a hit.

their new-year-appropriate cover of kylie’s can’t get you out of my head showed their indie-rock manner to be quite casual, dazed and stylistically relaxed, and even though the lead vocals still remained a little strained, the strong drumming and those ringing metallic guitar riffs throughout their tunes were catchable, drawing them together.

with an encouraging crowd and driving rhythm, and even some quirky spoken vocals over the bridge, stars was a true stand out. sures surely have me interested once more.

the now packed-out metro began to blow and shake as the beloved vampire weekend walked out. blasting immediately into cousins, our bodies bounced as smiles were whacked onto our faces.

their sound was flawlessly balanced and allowed for each thought out layer to ring clear. the fast paced guitar was tight, lights colourfully flashed in spectacular time, and the four members of the band instantaneously showed their incredibly cute and energetic attitudes, particularly chris baio on bass. watching his footwork and shoulder moves as he sprung about the stage in those white jeans hilariously warmed my heart.  and leading into white sky, chris tomson on drums stood up for a quick hip dance of his own. seeing their charismatic enthusiasm made it all the more fun.

vampire weekend is one of those bands who can throw out hook after hook, and get a bite for every one. catchy, erratic guitar that dances straight into your ear (like that opener to cape cod kwassa kwassa) and thoughtful vocal melodies that are equally as rhythmic as they are lyrically distinct. on the night, ezra koenig couldn’t be faulted. his voice was clear throughout every wordy verse and had a casual, swarve manner that made his every note seem easy and completely second nature.

yet in no way were any songs stale. conversely, each one had crisp and lively energy, showing how much they’re still so loved by the band. especially run with exciting strobes flickering fast, and the complete crowd pleasers holiday and a-punk. the drums were fast and thundered with reverbing, lifting toms.

with the anticipated release of their third album, vampire weekend graciously previewed a few new tracks. the first was with acoustic guitar, extra synth flavour and memorable, strong beats. we all clapped along approvingly.

swapping to a twelve string, we were next given an australian debut of i think ur a contra. the song soared around us with gorgeous reverb synth chords and twangy guitar, and the polyrhythms towards the end of faster handclaps over that shuffling beat gave the song life.

after a sing-a-long to the happy horchata, we were shown another newbie. identifiably vampire weekend, the track was rhythmic and surprising with sudden changes and layers. i love the unpredictable variations within their tracks and their ability to hold, or hold off on a change, pushing the boundaries of what feels natural by just enough. just like the reggae breakdown in diplomat’s son. so good.

to take us to a glorious ending, the echoing bass drum boomed as the bass bounced up the major scale and the crowd sang along to campus. without any sign of wearing, the band dynamically smashed into oxford comma without pausing, dazzling highs all ‘round. to finish was giving up the gun, complete with electronic rhythmic samples blaring through with spontaneous vigor.

their inevitable encore was welcomed with cheers that made my ears happily ache. one (blake’s got a new face) needed no encouragement for crowd participation, and we couldn’t not move joyously to mansford roof. keeping with tradition, vampire weekend finished with their goodbye song, walcott. and as we left, not a face amongst us wore a frown.

vampire weekend – you will forever indie-rock my world.

set list

: cousins : white sky : cape cod kwassa kwassa : m79 : run : holiday : california english : a-punk : new song 1 (unbelievers) : i think ur a contra : i stand corrected : horchata : new song 2 (arms) : diplomat’s son : campus : oxford comma : giving up the gun :

encore

: one (blake’s got a new face) : mansford roof : walcott :

chloe tully is an honest and soulful singer/songwriter whose songs are a charming  mix of folk, pop, love and longing, and are fuelled by her very outback upbringing. signing with alberts last year (gotye, san cisco, the medics), chloe tully is most definitely dreaming big.  

to the dreamers is the first single off chloe tully’s forthcoming ep.

co-written by chloe, producer wayne connolly (josh pyke, hungry kids of hungary and paul dempsey) and los angeles based writer and producer, jarrad kritzstein (washington and dappled cities) it is a poetically sung letter addressed to her “dear friend”.

with relatable desires of a reunion with the past, chloe’s natural and sweet voice takes us with her through that dream. with cute pop hooks, chugging rhythm, subtle layering and catchy lines like “i’m just checkin’ in to see if there’s a possibility that we can reconnect and write this page together”, to the dreamers is at once likeable. an intriguing release.

chloe is currently on an adventure across india before heading home to release her ep and reveal a new video. you can follow her travels on her blog ‘letters to the dreamers’.

download her new single here.  

*the following review can also be read at musicfeeds.com.au

what a glorious road mumford and sons have been traveling down these last few years…and they’re nowhere near slowing down. after their sold out sydney entertainment centre show, i’m so close to packing my bags and heading bush to dungog, just to experience that magic once more.

earlier in the night, i almost choked on my dinner as i realised the first support, willy mason, had already begun. i raced down to the venue, hoping to catch the end, but was devastated to have missed it all. next time mr mason.

i took my stance amongst the growing crowd just as the heard of people that make up edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros piled onto the stage. warm cheers echoed. with a low hum and little laugh from lead singer alex ebert, they began. their opening track, man on fire, was amazing: powerful, with a deep drone from the zeros and then the lead vocal line ringing out clear. watching alex was mesmerizing: he moved with a cool swagger and danced from his shoulders down. and then, suddenly, he was out of sight. he’d jumped down into the crowd to dance, apparently only needing half a songs warm up before he leapt.

all up, there stood twelve people on stage, and more than double that for the number of instruments. and six hats. yet their large number was not at any point too much. with considered arrangements and effective chorus, solos and dynamics, this seemingly dreamy, hippie band is also incredible thoughtful. 

that’s what’s up was a beautifully fun interplay between alex and singer jade castrinos and saw them chase each other around the stage with such friendly affection. for the moving child, the vocals were lead by christian letts and, to the crowds delight, featured marcus mumford on mandolin. let’s get high flew alex off the stage toward the crowd once more, and for their extremely lovable hit home, the mumford horn section graced the stage, lifting the song to a massive dynamic. edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros were outstanding. 

during the break, i began to feel such excitement. the stage was dressed with huge, circular lights, and fairy lights draped above the standing crowd. the light show was set to be pretty magical. so, to welcome the four englishmen, those globes glowed blue, illuminating them just enough. already, i was captivated. singing out lovers’ eyes with sincerity, the lights suddenly shone golden as the horns entered and the song built. oh this show was going to be special, all right! with driving energy they lead straight into the hoedown roll away your stone, marcus’s raw vocals soaring, and everyone on stage and off was jumping.

the new track holland road was stunning, with incredible dynamic shifts and strong horn entry. that song felt so believable, a recent truth: “and i knew your pain and the effect of my shame, but you cut me down.” it was performed with this united vigor that seemed unworn, fresh. the same went for i will wait. although songs from ‘sigh no more’ were unflawed, mumford and sons’ new songs had an enchanting life that they all obviously felt. and while the whole place resonated “i will wait, i will wait for you”, and as that banjo line drove, i got lost in awe.

little lion man was still as strong as ever and had all the fairy lights blazing us with bright warmth. after a quick move to the drum kit, marcus belted out to lover of the light, gaining such a huge sound with the full backing band. the way marcus phrases his melodies live is enthralling, and his natural tone is controlled but at once relaxed. in particular ghosts that we knew was chilling and honest. to say that these performers had great musicality and connection would be an understatement. but what is perhaps more incredible is that, after everything, they’ve remained so humble.

returning the favour, christian letts came back to the stage to perform awake my soul with plenty of gorgeous harmony. to lead into the last song, dust bowl dance, ben lovett gracefully showed his admirable talents on the upright piano. with marcus again on drums and intense electric guitar, the number became a wall of sound, to then dramatically fall back to that soft, eerie vocal line to finish.

knowing we were in for an encore, we waiting as the boys regrouped. when they started the heartfelt where are you now i was again lost. i love that track. the crowd was not at all weary as they jumped to the cave – we were all lost in the world of mumford and sons by then.    

with an end like no other, edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros and willy mason returned to the stage and at once, the whole stage shook as the mass of people upon it all stomped in time. singing fleetwood mac’s the chain, the group finished with the repeated line “keep us together” strongly ringing out in unison. 

so to finish, all i can possible say is:

what. a. show.

setlist

: lovers’ eyes : roll away your stone : winter winds : holland road : i will wait : white blank page : below my feet : timshel : little lion man : lover of the light : thistle & weeds : ghosts that we knew : the boxer : awake my soul : whispers in the dark : dust bowl dance :

encore

: where are you now : the cave : the chain :

*the following review can also be read at theorangepress.net

after entering through a side door, climbing concrete stairs and then parting draping plastic vine leaves, we eventually found ourselves in the back section of the metro: its understated second stage – the lair. previous home to the similarly named mtv live music show, and at one time the transit lounge, the lair is a venue i’m glad to have found.

we arrived to see melbourne band busy kingdom already on stage. for their very first sydney show, they had drawn a pretty hefty crowd, and had them all fixated on their charming presence and wowed them with their 50s/60s infused rock sounds. from that first song, monday morning, they somehow had us feeling like we were old friends; a band we’ve known and loved for years. and as they sang out the punchy line “pick me up and pull me down mess me up and fuck me ’round” they immediately had us all dancing about.

their track all your love from their first release ‘turn off your tv‘ (2011) had this great electric guitar counter melody that rang out over the chorus, and the climbing bass line in the newer let me go was relaxed and cool. both had an easy 90s rock feel, whereas the soulful rebecca took us straight back to an old school rock ‘n’ roll blues in three. i loved busy kingdom’s flirtations with various eras – at once familiar and timeless, but still so fresh.

comprising of brothers michael and brendan on vocals and guitars, and curtis on bass while luke drives the beats, busy kingdom’s music is thoughtfully arranged. the lead vocals from michael are clean and his tone is smooth, and the effective backing vocals from brendan blend so well, never overdone. and those numerous guitar swaps for different tracks give each song its characteristic flavour. 

darling devil was awesome with it’s sparse opening chords ringing from the electric guitar and simple vocal harmonies that then lead straight into a classic rock ‘n’ roll beat the crowd eagerly twisted and toe-tapped to. i wanted to dance all night. one punter, dressed in a michael jackson ‘thriller’ jacket, def leppard t-shirt, and with a sweat-band hugging his head, vigorously danced around, air-guitar-ing and even air-mic-ing for everyone’s entertainment. wicked. finishing their set with the new single darcy, busy kingdom surely know how to show you a good time.

with awfully catchy melodic hooks and clear musicianship, busy kingdom is a band that has that rare spark: amazing live energy and feel-good songs that bury themselves in your head, complemented by this alluring laid-back modesty. placed so comfortably on stage, they’re genuine and infectiously fun. watch out for this band.

the headliners of the night were local band the trobes. launching their second ep, ‘out & in focus‘(2012), these guys most definitely had some fun at this gig. as they came onto the stage, it seemed like the five members were dressed for different bands. a stunning black dress, the drummer in a patterned 70s style buttoned number, the bassist in a casual tee while one guitarist had an amazing candy stripped blazer wearing him. looking back, it represented what we were in for musically quite well. a real mix bag.

unfortunately, their sound was way out of whack. strangely though, as the sound for busy kingdom was leveled really well. as the trobes began, their vocals were way too loud, though apparently not loud enough through their wedges, which made for some wavering pitches and unclear lyrics. it was tricky to catch the song titles. not letting it get to them, the band settled in and began to enjoy themselves in front of a packed out crowd of lots of family and friends. dappling in many different genres, we were taken through heavier, grungy, even punk influenced numbers, stripped back folk songs with four-part harmony, and then upbeat tunes that were just pop-happy. their song ha_gma_ was a clear stand out, and known the best amongst the crowd, but it was difficult to work out where this band fit.

what was really interesting about the trobes was that they didn’t really have a clear lead vocalist. with each new song came a different singer, and a different style along with it. with potential for that to be to be really edgy, i felt like the changes were a little too often and not as smooth or proficient enough as it should be, musically. and with everyone swapping instruments, with a sax solo and, at one stage, a cello and violin thrown in there, i found it tough to warm to the trobes.

finishing with a three song encore, including their latest single, all or nothing, the trobes surely had a ball on stage. with so many obvious influences, it will be interesting to see where this eclectic group ends up, and if they do settle on a sound they can call their own.

*the following review can also be read at theorangepress.net

check out photos from the gig here.

after teasing us with warmth, thursday ended up being a pretty dreadful, cold spring day. but i managed to find the ultimate way to warm up: head down to the standard to dance, boogie and dance some more to the amazing soul/funk/hip-hop blended band sola rosa.with their infectious grooves, my friend and i were pulled towards the front of dance floor during their second song. where we remained until the end.

the night had begun with dj blackjack on the decks as we walked in. after my friend surprisingly realised that gum and cider were indeed an awful mix, we and headed up the stairs to take a seat. as we settled in, omegaman took over the decks and stage. with bongos and two very soulful voices over his funky tracks, they were pretty cool. reminding me of alice russell, and a hint of joss stone, the singer had a great presence.

i liked omegaman, but as the group continued through their set i felt like a bit of natural groove was lost as they sang along to the tracks. my attention was fading. there was one vocal breakdown in free falling where the vocalist could have slowed right down, drawn in the crowd and really owned it, but the beat rushed her, and it was lost. but they did keep us all happy and got a few people up dancing to their latin-infused cover/mash-ups of work it out, no diggity and let’s get loud.

not having known much of sola rosa’s music or their story before the gig, i was very keen to check them out. i had heard only praise, so didn’t think it could go too badly at all. in fact, i am now an avid campaigner of their work myself. the band reigns from new zealand and are on our shores (for the first time in two years) to promote their latest album ‘low and behold, high and beyond’ (2012). they have alsorecently performed as part of the bigsound showcase in brisbane, being one of only a handful of kiwi acts.

they have a sound that is something different. with a line-up including record decks, electric guitar, bass, midi-keys and that magical computer control for the drum beats, sola rosa manage to get the balance so right between what is live and what is queued.

after beginning with an instrumental number, the band then welcomed on cherie mathieson and they dove straight into their single spinning top. what energy. what musicality. and what a voice. with cheek, she called out “come a little closer, sydney, i won’t bite! unless you want me to…”

for quite a few songs, spikey tee came away from the decks and let loose his own funky-full voice. i loved watching them both as they danced and backed each other, but also stood out with equal valor. and the use of spikey tee’s radio mic was just awesome. great texture.

with each song settling in on its groove right away, we were easily taken through soul, funk and even reggae. the beats were produced by the bands founder, andrew spraggon, yet they managed to still have a great live feel. i forgot for most of the set that the drums weren’t live…it all worked so seamlessly. and i couldn’t stop from dancing. they had spontaneity: a great testament to their onstage musical connection.

after their rock-salsa number all you need, the band returned to the stage for their encore real life. two of my favourites.

i usually like to listen up on a band before watching their headline act, but on this occasion, it was nowhere near a worry. each song was electric and busting with contagious energy. and all the members of sola rosa were enticingly charismatic. especially that hair flick of the guitarist and when he and spikey tee jumped off the stage and danced amongst the doting crowd, lapping up their attention.

so to sum up: i shall be waiting for their return to see this band again. i shall be purchasing solarosa‘s new album low and be hold, high and beyond (2012). and so should you.

*the following review can also be read at musicfeeds.com.au

on the eve before winter, not even drizzling rain or impending cold could affect the spring i had in my step. after only catching their last three songs when they supported death cab in february, and with the recent hype of their new single, i was definitely keen see dappled cities live once more. i ventured down to oxford art factory where a small crowd and the smell of popcorn greeted me (yes, yes…popcorn). with my unfortunate track record for arriving late to gigs, particularly mid-week, i surprisingly got there with ample time to spare.

the first band on stage was panama, four local lads whose upbeat sounds turned out to be quite a treat. with the exciting layering of catchy vocals, those popular nostalgic 80s riffs, and full, lifting percussion, panama have instrumental multi-tasking down to a tee.

although the first half seemed a little flat and the vocal levels were too low, the driving rhythms and memorable keys kept the sound tight. by the end, everything settled with loads more energy, particularly their single magic. the bright, pop tune had exciting bongos and soaring vocals, and was somehow reminiscent of summertime.

the second support were glass towers, an indie-rock band who already have substantial touring history under their belt. hailing from byron bay, i couldn’t help but notice the now sydneysiders were a young bunch. but as the drummer began, his age was suddenly no longer a curiosity. his neat time changes and the technicality of his fills were first-rate.

at first i didn’t much care for the singer’s voice, yet as he went on, i warmed to his casual, speak-singing style. it seemed to fit their image perfectly. the lead guitarist seemed completely disenchanted each time he sang bvs, though his catchy riffs more than made up for it. their newest single jumanji a welcomed highlight and brought a fun, tropical pop feel. 

by now the venue had packed out, but the crowd was well behaved; i’ve come to like a courteous thursday night gig. as the curtains parted for dappled cities, a silver backdrop complete with hollywood lights was revealed. and what a show we got! the bright lights were engulfing, complete with hectic strobes. i maybe had to squint a little bit, but they gave their music such energy from word go.

the band was balanced, tight and well polished. that’s what playing together for ten years will do for you. clearly happy to be back performing, they played from across their four albums including crowd favourites the price and holy chord.

what i really loved about dappled cities is how both vocalists manage to share the role so evenly, seamlessly mixing with clear, resonant tones, layered octave harmonies and a reverb mic to set it off.

the night is young at heart was one of the best moments of their show. with those identifiable time changes and crazy lights, it was completely exciting, and didn’t sound its age one bit. and when a girl climbed up onto the stage and danced her own heart out and flicked her long brown locks, they loved it, keeping the energy high and the outro long.

but i have to say, run with the wind is quickly turning into my favourite song. it was pretty epic. those gliding scalic synth lines and soaring melodic falsetto chorus give the song it’s constant momentum and kept us enthralled. 

dappled cities have impressively managed to continue to sound fresh and current with this track, but have retained their own identifiable sound. not and easy feat. it will be interesting to see what direction their new album takes us.

they will be returning to our stages this october.

last thursday evening in surry hills, a small, intimate audience crowded into a warehouse apartment in hibernian house and got their toe-tapping  folk on. it was liam gale & the ponytails. it was their ‘towers & time’ ep launch. it was stacks of fun. and i swear there wasn’t a stationary toe in the room. 

we entered the old building, followed the ponytail signs up a few flights and found the venue. on arrival, everyone was given their stamp and a raffle ticket along with one of the brand spankin’ new eps. clever touch. 

the apartment was decked out with stools and cushions in front of the stage area where many an instrument and drum stood. we were in for a musical pie tonight. 

first up was the jazzy sounds of sydney-sider, iluka. she accompanyed herself on her semi-acoustic and had gus (from the ponytails) providing beats on a rhythm box. i love those. her songs dappled through all different styles, but all had that very cool old sixties, retro feel. full of rocky hooks and catchy grooves. and her styled image fitted all that perfectly. 

iluka’s voice was great, with a really familiar old bluesy tone, yet it had a uniqueness that pricked my ear. i loved dear mr. earl. gorgeous. something about that twang was fresh and super intriguing. but i kind of felt like we didn’t get to hear it at it’s fullest and her performance didn’t grab me quite enough on the night…i wished she had stepped away from the mic a bit more to use the acoustics of the room and to really let go. there’s a big, memorable voice in there. one to definitely follow.

but by the end of her set, when the apartment had really filled up, she’d warmed nicely and had gotten everyone clapping along to her songs paper doll and brave like a lion. awesome tunes. 

iluka already has two eps under her young belt: ‘to the place’ and ‘eyes closed’, both recorded by ollie mcgill of the cat empire. and she’ll be launching her latest single, 12th july at fbi social actually on the 12th july. she has also scored a support slot for the the very fun nine piece clariy browne & the bangin’ rackettes’ love letter tour. they’ll be playing shows at brass monkey on the 24th may and at goodgod small club on the 25th, so be sure to head along. 

by now everyone was squeezing in quite tightly, with a firm grip on their acquired cushions. and the crowd had really taken to the whole byo thing. perhaps a little too much…i did see someone with an esky…

the second act to play were the rusty spring syncopators, a very old-school, early jazz band who most definitely took their style to the extreme. and with costumes and accents to match, they played guitar, a washtub bass and a washboard. great, lively sound. i love the timbre of the washboard…a forgotten gem.

the singer, whose rough voice reminded me a little of c.w. stoneking, was particularly in character. he told stories of peach pickin’ time in georgia and also played the kazoo. and even though the band did have a great energy, the crowd remained a little tentative. check out their performance of pillow man at the 2012 reclaim the lanes festival in newtown. 

my friends and i were most intrigued by their one-string bass. one turned to me and joked ”he better not break a sting”…but then, during their very last song, he did just that. i don’t think it would have mattered all that much, except he then didn’t know what to do. he began to whack the bucket with the pole, but did so out of time. and he just lost it at the end, throwing the washtub across the stage, hitting the other drum kit on it’s way. not cool. you’ve got to have a plan for those moments. 

so unfortunately, that’s what has stuck with me most from their set.

but do check these guys out for yourselves when they support the crooked fiddle band at the vanguard on the 8th june. hopefully without any breakages. 

next, a chuck of the audience stood up and took to the stage. it was time for liam gale and his six ponytails. aw yeah.

their rhythmic roots-folk tunes began and filled the room entirely. what an exciting and vibrant sound. with their setup including guitar, mandolin, bass, sitar, tambourine, african drum, two backup singers…and with a frontman’s voice like liam’s…this band has a whole heap of goodness going on.

they began with two tracks (that will likely be on their upcoming album) and then they went straight into playing the ep. ‘towers & time’ was well and truly being launched. 

the use of various world instruments that would appear mismatched actually worked together quite nicely. i especially loved the texture the sitar gave, but we could barely hear it when it first began. my friend kindly asked the sound lady to turn it up which then made all the difference. thanks friend! and the african drumming gave the rhythm such a lift.

liam’s vocals are raw and honest, but with great grunt and projection. and his song arrangements are very very far from dull. the heavy layering of instruments, percussion and voices is really what gives it an intensity and keeps us captivated. i found my attention being taken all over the place in the exciting of letters lost, perhaps a little too much, but it makes for such a fun, full sound. and the whole bands vocal shout out towards the end was excellent. that track got a few up dancing!

one of the most special moments in their set was when five of the seven left the stage and liam performed follow your feet as a duet with the very musical, purple-haired back up singer. who also played guitar. and who had been playing tambourine. and sitar. the song was gorgeous and totally acoustic - what i’d been craving in that space. we all watched and listened so quietly, and so attentively. 

my favourite track from the ep is broadside ballad. i feel like it’s a kind of definition of what you can expect from liam gale & the ponytails. the opening relaxed beat, driving bass and blues guitar licks have a great feel. but what is most exciting is the way the song will strip back the layers completely, and then drop them back, building up to a thrilling, hoedown style finish. awesome on the night. check out the video of their performance at sofar sounds.

yet as amazing as the venue was, candlelit and all, i felt like it was’t quite right for these rhythmically driving tunes. they called for movement. those select few did rise to their feet again and began to dance as liam called “freedom for the devil”…and we could feel the floorboards beneath us bend as they jumped. but the space didn’t allow us all to. how fun that would be…the rest of us resorted to the head bob/toe tap dance. we couldn’t not move. 

before the last song, the raffle was drawn. the prize was an array of lg & pt merch including posters, a tote bag, as well as gig entry and some ‘ponytail ale’. sweet, right?! but then, after a few re-draws, the eventual winner was hilariously liam’s mum! i’m sure that’s not how liam had envisioned that part of the night…

for their last track, in the ebb tide, two members of sydney’s get folked were invited to the stage to add some fitting fiddle and extra african drumming. the drummer was very energetic, and didn’t even let the beanie that was slipping over his eyes take away from his playing. that made nine players on stage…a little musical community! 

but that wasn’t it. the crowd called for one more and we were lucky enough to be treated to a special encore song, kharma thief. what an incredibly fun night. i can’t wait for that new album to drop…

having already performed at the smallest gig and frolic festivals, and many venues across town, liam gale & the ponytails are one heck of a band you should definitely be in the know of. watch out for new gig info on their facebook.

these are guys to keep keen eyes on.

every wednesday night, hotel hollywood in surry hills plays host to the very special folk club. if there is ever a club you should become a member of - this. is. it. 

with a steadily increasing following of fellow folksters, and now in its seventh strong week, folk club is an intimate live music session that’s full of gorgeous tunes and captivating musical tales.  

and last week was no exception.

the driving force behind the scenes of folk club is the ever talented local band, the falls. after their residency at the hollywood last year, it was the obvious pick to house this weekly folk club venture. it’s such a wonderful old-school gem of a hotel.  

as we entered, we were accompanied by the sounds of 49 goodbyes. contrary to their name, this band greeted us ever so warmly with their beautiful blended voices. the product of a successful internet (musical) date, the two girl shared with us their mutual love of country music and harmony. i think we could all tell they were singing what they love. have a listen to their track heart.

the small hotel managed to fill up quite quickly that night…even a couple of stars of the folk world came in to see the show…and although it’s a free gig, the bands who perform at folk club are given a cut of batlow cider sales, who also supported the secret garden festival this year…that cider sure loves music! mmm cidery goodness. i had maybe one or two (too many). all in support of the music, of course. 

next up was griffith goat boy. accompanied by his guitar, banjo and two backup singers (one being one half of evil j & saint cecilia), this guy was pretty incredible. i loved his voice…husky, deep and rough even, but with a coat of polish. and although he’s also a doctor, he has managed to find the time to record an independent debut album ‘the chimera’. smart cookie.  

although they play a set most weeks, taking the headlining spot for the first time since the beginning of folk club was the falls. i first saw this duo when they supported husky at fbi social last year, and fell in love. they are gorgeous. melinda and simon co-write and perform beautiful, melancholic songs with memorable melodies and honest lyrics. they work together so effortlessly, like it was always meant to be. such a joy to watch.

the falls are releasing their debut ep hollywood this june, after getting a ton of local support to fund the project. they are also supporting the incredible jack carty next week at the vanguard to release their single home. these are two darlings that must be seen.  

you can check out the video of folk club #6 on their vimeo. full of folky love and with a surprise performance from uk’s paul aiden, it was a night i’m glad not to have missed.

so be quick and head on down to the hollywood tonight from 8pm for the seventh installment of folk club. with the falls, lacey cole and achoo! bless you performing, it will surely, surely be another folk-tastic night!

the first rule of folk club is: you do not talk about folk club.

the second rule of folk club is: well, actually you DO talk about folk club. 

spread the word.  

one thursday night not so long ago, i was treated to a very special gig indeed.

it was high tea. finally, i had made it to one of their events. with a facebook invite-only group, and first-in-first served when reserving the limited number of tickets, these fortnightly gigs fill up unbelievably fast. but i was in!

i was only able to get to the show half way through, however, as earlier that evening, i had been to see my friend’s african drumming concert, soul drumming. as disappointed as i was they were on the same night, boy, was that show a treat as well. 

over thirty drums and their drummers arranged themselves in a large circle and the group then played rhythm against rhythm, called and responded, and sang. it all rang and vibrated throughout my body. so when the audience were offered smaller drums to try their own hands at, we couldn’t resist. it was incredible to suddenly become a part of that powerful energy. and the teacher was lively, yet beautifully down to earth. he poetically explained to us that:

“if you have a heat beat, you have rhythm”.

and that night, we all had stacks. my hands and arms definitely felt it as well. 

so when i finally tore myself away from the african beats, i was on my way to high tea. i snuck in and luckily found a stool at the very back. the warehouse-style space was absolutely awesome: old windows, cushions and rugs covering the timber floor, dripping candles and, of course, lots of tea. a whole table just for tea. and the event was byo as well, which is always welcoming. 

i just don’t know how to manage it…time…it somehow got away from me once more as i found myself racing up to fbi social for a thursday night gig i’d been planning on going to for ages. 

it was another ‘ropes end’ evening, presented by a story never told. i’d had such an amazing time at the last event they co-hosted with lonely kids club (which featured the adorable brissy band cub scouts) that i was to be there for this one for sure. and it was to play the role of i, a man’s you’re boring us all ep tour. wins all round. 

but, regrettably, i did miss the first act of the night, wade jackson. hope to catch him and his catchy songs soon though.  

i happily handed over my $10 for a ticket and met my friend inside. 

little did i know, i was about to be blown away in awe. 

the band to play next was saloons, five sydney boys who kept me fascinated with their gorgeous, experimental sounds their entire set. they are a band that everyone should know. and soon. 

on stage they had a harp set up which we found very intriguing, particularly after there were only a few casual strums during the first few songs. but not only did the frontman play the beautiful strings with gracious proficiency, he also effectively sang into the instrument’s microphone, creating echoing vocals that soared. it’s the bands tribal rhythms, emotive lyrics and intelligent songwriting that makes for their unique, captivating sound.     

have a listen to their single morning sun on their bandcamp and make sure you get to see them one saturday night this april during their residency at upstairs beresford, they will surely not disappoint!  

next to take the stage were four-piece melbourne band i, a man. these guys have been getting some great reviews lately, and quite a bit of triple j time. they also managed to score the support spot on bombay bicycle club’s tour for their two forum shows. pretty neat.   

even though the sound levels were slightly too high for my little ears (as it often is at that venue…), it was balanced to a tee, covered with interesting drum fills and driving guitars, particually in my fave, sometimes. and their song five four was refreshing, funnily enough, being in a five beat rhythm. not so common!

i, a man have a really great polished sound. but they seemed to warrant a bit more energy throughout their act. so as the set somehow lost it’s momentum towards the end, the crowd also lost a bit of interest. it was getting late on a school night, after all. 

one rainy mardi gras evening not so long ago, we were given the absolute joy of watching tim hart of boy & bear perform his stunning solo material at fbi social. 

on what happens to be one of darlinghurst’s busiest nights of the year, we slowly made our way through the crowds and wet streets, managing to arrive just in time to see the second support, patrick james. this young sydney voice is one to keep your eyes and ears on. and quite closely. his songs had a beautiful folk drive and his vocals had insight and tone well beyond is nineteen young years. tim hart and a mandolin accompanied his last song - what an end to a gorgeous set. check out patrick’s single carry on on his triple j unearthed page and watch his facebook this week for the announcement of his upcoming tour dates.

to enhance the cozy, intimate feel of the gig, the audience were all sitting on fbi social’s floor. and so, to follow suit, and while tim hart completed his set-up, we moved in closer to the stage and sat down ourselves. we waited with great anticipation, for my friend and i had already fallen in love with his voice after the last song.

tim hart plays as the drummer for the much loved sydney band, boy & bear. but alongside that busy schedule, he has somehow managed to squeeze in writing new songs, recording an ep, supporting passenger on his regional tour alongside stu larsen, and now - a tour to call his very own. his complete passion for music making and his songwriting skills are more than apparent. 

and being no stranger to the stage, he had a warm and comfortable presence that drew every eye to him. and to top it off, is he hilariously witty. he described how great it was to see the hundreds of people out on the streets when he arrived. all to come to see his show… 

those of us lucky enough to be there were given such a musical treat. tim’s songs were rich and captivating. he has such a way with words that each tune had it’s own life. a true poet. and he has amazing guitar/banjo skills and has a voice that is earthy, truthful and sincere, proving he isn’t merely an amazing drummer. 

we had unfortunately missed luke thompson’s set, so were very pleased when tim called upon him and patrick james to sing a harmony filled song. they moulded together as if they play together always. beautiful. 

so even with all his talents and success, tim hart has still managed to remain rooted down to the earth. we spoke to him after the show, and he was completely nonchalant about being a good friend and ex-drummer of none other than the lovely laura marling. as you do. 

make sure you get along to see him perform on his next solo tour, hopefully this july, and you can catch boy & bear in may/june on their remembering the mexican national tour. but we shall have to wait paitently until tim hart’s first studio album is released later this year. so in the meantime, grab yourself a copy of his architects ep and listen very well. your ears and heart will love it.

what an afternoon! packed to the brim with goodness. if all of my sundays were as lovely, i’d be a very happy one. beautiful performances, cute and cosy setting and, of course, gorgeous hosts. the smallest gig sure know how to create an event you’ll remember. 

their first show for 2012, “farewell summer rain”, was held in the backyard of a surry hills terrace. we entered via the back lane, paid our $10 donation (which was to be split between the bands) and found ourselves welcomed into a setup like no other. the space was covered with d.i.y. decorations including flag shaped cut-outs from old sheet music and little tea-lights inside jam jars (labels and all) hanging from the hills hoist. super cute. 

a small stage and p.a. were positioned and there was still plenty of ground space to house all of us lucky to score tickets. we chose our pozzy (remembering it was byo wine, cider, cheese and rug) and relaxed into the perfect atmosphere that had become our afternoon. 

why isn’t there more of this around?

the first band to take to the stage was castlecomer. five guys, guitars, a ukulele, tambourine and an african style drum. oh, and outright amazing five part vocal harmonies. it was like a sweet cake mix of fleet foxes, mumford & sons, a touch of hillbilly and some good old-fashioned barber shop. if you’re quick, you can check them out tonight (30th march) at their danny’s den ep launch at the gaelic. they will sadly be the one of the last bands to grace that stage, as another sydney venue shuts its doors to live music.

ironically, it was in reaction to other venues closing down that holly and elosie decided to start the smallest gig to begin with. and it’s now one whole year old. the two lovely ladies explained to us that they host these bi-monthly backyard gigs as a way to continue sydney’s live music scene and to continue the intimacy of music - that special relationship between musician and audience you only get at a live gig.

so next up on the smallest gig stage were kodachrome. their music was emotive and slow, but beautifully warm, with an especially warm, warm cello. and the vocalist was great. he had a sincerity to his voice and lyrics that drew the crowd in completely. you must get along to see these guys when they next perform!

during the performances, an artist was set up off to the side and was casually drawing away. he drew interpretive caricatures of the bands. it was intriguing to see them take their shape and was a effective addition to the creative afternoon. the pictures were then hung up and became a part of the decorations. pretty amazing!

blue mountains mountains boy thom crawford performed next. he had a very suave stage presence and a smooth, natural voice. you can follow his facebook for more upcoming shows and definitely have a listen to his ep solid ground. let his storytelling take you away as he did us. he sung a few songs with electric guitar and keys, and then moved on to his acoustic.

and then…just as he announced he was dedicating his next song to a friend of his who had recently passed away…everyone’s heads began to turn back to a commotion in the laneway.

the police had turned up. apparently there had been a noise complaint. umm, sorry, excuse us, i beg your pardon, what? who lives in surry hills if they can’t take a little amplified music at 6pm on a weekend day? and how could it have been noisier or as noisy as an afternoon bbq or party? so thom had to stop halfway through his set.

gah. it was ever so ironic. after just hearing about why the smallest gig had started…we got shut down. and on the weekend after the first national s.l.a.m. day as well. excellent work sydney. 

the girls and the house hosts took it all very graciously, though. but it was official. we had to shut it off. i suddenly became super sad as i thought the show was over for good, but we just turned off the p.a. and waited a few minutes for the craziness to settle. and so the rest of the smallest gig was to be played acoustically.

it was such a bittersweet treat…thom finished his songs beautifully, and the crowd ‘applauded’ by clicking and cheering their soft whispered ‘woos’…it was so tricky not to break into a full-blown clap as soon as a song finished, as it is so habitual. there were a few sneaky ones that come through, but overall, we were the quietest audience EVER. we could even hear the cricket crowds from the scg. the planes overhead drowned out the sound. you could hear the click of the camera upon each shot. the birds and crickets were sometimes even louder than the music.

the last act for the afternoon was georgia fair. and they were so very very good. they took to playing their set acoustically as if that’s how it was suppose to be. two young guys, two guitars (and a token harmonica for one song), and a whole lot of folky harmony. mmm harmony. watching their musical communication and connection was enthralling. we clicked as loudly as we could! check out their latest single and video simple man on fasterlouder. and don’t miss them as they perform again as the support on the lisa mitchell spiritus tour this june.

and so, we farewelled the summer rain with one last loud cheer to the bands, the hosts and to the smallest gig (and to maybe give the neighbourhood one small ‘stick it’ hurrah…it had to be done…). what an adventure!

if you are an artists, musician, decorators etc. or if you’d like to offer your own place to host one of these special events, please email thesmallestgig@gmail.com. 

in the meantime, watch the four beautiful videos that are on the smallest gig’s vimeo and make sure you follow their facebook for news of the next show. let’s support this excellent event, and support our live music scene.

i was casually flicking through drum media one evening back in january, brushing up on my live music knowledge, then suddenly came to a huge, full page ad notifying me of death cab for cutie’s national tour.

excuse me, what? how had i missed that?! and the first show had sold out already? aww man… 

i immediately informed my brother we were going (he’s been a fan of the boys from washington for many, many years) and secured us tickets.

their show was at the enmore theatre. i really love that old venue. iconic. and great sound. what a combo. they had local sydney band dappled cities for their support. those guys are doing alright for themselves! 

we arrived only for the last few songs from dappled, yet they happened to include their tracks the night is young at heart and the price, which are both pushing a few years old now, but still very much goodies.

in true enmore-gig style, the crowd sat down on the ageing floor between the acts. my brother took this opportunity to head to the bar to grab us new drinks, as we decided our heineken in a can was an unfortunate first choice. and in his true iphone-happy-style, he texted me the options.

just as he returned, death cab came out. and they began with one of my favourite songs a lack of color.so good. they drew the crown in from get go. their second song was another of my favs, i will possess your heart which filled the theatre with their gorgeous indie sound. and the dipping floor underneath us was embodying. always a great accompaniment to gigs at the enmore. 

they are obviously a very well rehearsed band. so tight. but it was great to see that they seemed to be enjoying every minute of their set as much as well did. without a lot of stage banter, but with over ten years worth of playing and seven albums to stand on, it really was the music that the diverse fans were there for. and the band knew it, and delivered. 

a highlight of the night was the beautiful moment when the whole audience sang along to i will follow you into the dark. ben gibbard quietly played this track on his own, well, without the rest of the band…but with the whole singing audience. everyone knew all of the words. it was truly moving to be a part of. and such a sombre, insightful love song. 

you are a tourist was the first single released from their latest album codes and keys. check out the film clip if you havne’t already. it was recorded with multiple camera, but in one take and with no edits. and was streamed live. so a pretty large feat all in all. apparently this was the first time this had ever been done, and so it is definitely worth a watch.

i loved the song on the night, but it was strange. the audience seemed a little disenchanted and not as energetic as they were for songs from older albums. i suppose it is quite hard to keep all of your fans continuously interested, and to evolve and change at the same pace you do. they are still doing pretty well though, all things considered.  

i think they managed to play all the songs i love. i don’t often get that from such a large gig by such a huge band. i was quite lucky indeed. and you know those times when you recognise the song from the very first note or sound? my brother did completely when a movie script ending first began. he was the first to scream, and did so so loudly, people around us got quite a surprise. but it is his fav, so he was allowed.  

death cab finished their amazing set with marching bands of manhattan but then after, a reasonably long applause, they came back out to do an encore of no less than five songs. we all loved it. 

and then it was sad that it was the end.

so please continue your work, death cab for cutie. if you’re still putting on shows such as this, to such varied audience types, there seems to be no stopping you yet.

if you don’t know this band, allow their music to educate, and follow them here for news on their new albums and for details of the next time they play in a town near you.

my brother and i will, of course, be there once more.