Gig Review - Lorde

Live music via smart phone.

Lorde

@ The Zoo, Brisbane (16/10/2013)

Supported by Oliver Tank

Review by Jo Michelmore

As I stood on Ann Street, outside an iconic venue in Brisbane on a Wednesday night, waiting for the fabulous Katie Langley, I wasn't expecting the conversation I was going to hear nearby. An older gentleman, wearing a flat cap and with an English accent, approached the bouncers of The Zoo and asked where the venue was he had been to earlier in the week. It was all live music, every night, and you had to climb some stairs to get to it, not like young people and the discotheque of The Zoo, the stairs were similar, steep stairs, but they were worth the climb, because the music was amazing. Little did he know the music inside this 'discotheque' was going to be amazing too.

Once we climbed those stairs, Katie and I did the sensible thing and found ourselves a fan. Anyone who has frequented The Zoo more than once knows what it's like. It's an oven. It's a giant fan forced oven and on really hot nights, if you're lucky, you find yourself a fan and stick to it. While it was only averagely warm, Katie and I are Brisbane girls, so we knew where to be, found the biggest fan we could and stood our ground. The windswept spot made our night so enjoyable, both of us feeling like we were featuring in a music clip, our hair blown sideways so as to impede the view of those behind us (this may or may not be true). 

While Oliver Tank has featured on our top 25 recently, being the live music lover I am, I was intrigued to see exactly how he replicated those smooth sounds on stage. A shiny red guitar, some electronic equipment, a couple of drumsticks and magic happened. The moody sounds that guy can make on his own are beautiful, it was truly a delight to hear. As I swayed and swayed in the gentle breeze of the fan, he played track after track that had most of the audience mesmerised, the hypnotic beats hard to ignore. 

Playing some tracks from his 2011 EP release, Dreams and some newer songs, Oliver's voice was divine, it was hard to imagine such an almost delicate vocal coming from that bearded, curly haired man. The absolute highlight, 'Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion' was better than I could ever have imagined and a track I know I will listen to over and over again in the hope I see it live again soon.


By the time Lorde hit the stage, the venue had filled dramatically, although I can't say I thought it was the 'sold out' gig it had been promoted as, I'm sure I'd seen The Zoo a lot more packed than this previously, but who am I to say? There's no doubting the (mostly) very young audience were excited to be seeing the latest hipster icon in the flesh. Smart phones in hand, ready to watch a gig through the lens of a phone, this was an audience just dying to see it, get out and upload.

Lorde walked onto the stage with a grace (or was that shyness?) well beyond her years and instantly took the audience into her world, without a word, just a shy "Hey Brisbane" mid way through her first song 'Bravado' before launching into tracks from both her Love Club EP and Pure Heroine album. There's very little between song chatter, just a smile every now and then and I'm not sure if this a lack of stage experience or all part of the charm, but there's no doubt either way the audience loved it, the songstress had them all in the palm of her hand.


She prowled around the stage, flinging her hair dramatically, dancing like she was possessed and she seemed to naturally have that something performers crave, the 'look at me x-factor' that some people are just born with, but thankfully she also has a voice and talent to match. 'Tennis Court' provided one of the loudest cheers and the largest proportion of arms in the air, smart phones waving, recording every second. While I try to appreciate that everyone enjoys live music in a different way, I couldn't help but notice and be slightly put off by the amount of tiny screens in that particular audience. If I had wanted to see Lorde on a tiny screen, I could have stayed home and watched YouTube clips on my phone. Just saying.

With only the tiniest amount of talk about Brisbane's heat and a "I'm not very good at stalling", as well as a 'shushing' of the crowd as they sang Happy Birthday to her drummer, she showed her inexperience with live performance, but one could say this was somewhat charming, as the couple of covers and fabulously dramatic moves and growls, especially during 'Glory and Gore' made up for what she lacked in showmanship.

Ageing, inexperience, phone and gig behaviour aside, the performance was a pleasure to see, '400 Lux' and 'White Teeth Teens' both highlights, as well as, of course, the giant singalong during 'Royals', clearly the track the majority of patrons came to see. It was a fabulous to have the opportunity to see a performer in such an intimate venue, knowing that with her kind of talent and the kind of hype she is receiving, this is not the type of venue she will be playing for long. It will be intriguing to see how her inevitable success and touring change her on stage persona as she grows as an artist and a person, for it was sometimes hard to imagine that under that thick cover of make up she's only 16. I look forward to watching the progression.

That's one of the things I love about live music. Sometimes you get to see a seasoned professional who belongs on the stage, sometimes it's someone who's still finding their space on stage. Hopefully one day Lorde will be the seasoned performer and I will be able to say I saw her at the beginning, finding her feet. I also hope I'll be like that old guy I saw at the door, still walking the streets looking for a set of stairs to climb to find live music magic, knowing, if I'm lucky, when I get to the top of the staircase, I'm going to see something magical.


*One thing, to the two boys standing nearby: no, yelling at someone "f*** me" is neither charming, nor required. In fact, I doubt that yelling that at any stranger, in any situation is going to ensure that person does what you've yelled at them to do. Yes, Lorde is an attractive girl, but if you've only come to ogle, there's a venue a couple of doors down that would love to have your money. Unfortunately, as long as thoughts like that keep happening, misogyny in the music industry is going to remain alive and well. Sigh...
 

Gig Review - The Trouble With Templeton

The Trouble With Templeton

with Holy Holy @The Zoo (30/08/2013)

words and pics by Nayt Housman

Holy Holy are a five-piece band divided between Brisbane and Melbourne with the main players being Brisbane’s singer/songwriter Timothy Carroll and Melbourne’s guitarist/producer Oscar Dawson.


They delivered the current popular brand of acoustic folk-pop-rock with subtle controlled passion and the five piece band were so fashionable and good looking that I had a hard time looking away. Timothy was also quite captivating in his performance, serenading with soft but confident vocals and a beautiful vulnerability.

The set, which included Timothy’s gorgeous single ‘If I Were You’, went by quickly and the skill of each member was apparent, seeming quite effortless and natural. Though I was unfamiliar with most of their work it felt accessible and reminded me in moments of other popular 70s inspired folk-rock acts of the last few years (Noah and the Whale, Mumford and Son’s etc).

I think given some time the group will only grow stronger together as a band as they did come across as kind of new on stage, each owning their own piece of real estate independently but not quite yet as together as a band that may have been performing together for several years.

I really look forward to seeing how these talented folks grow together and refine their sound and although I came to know them a little late, Holy Holy will be added to my regular playlist from now on.

It's no secret that I love The Trouble With Templeton. In fact since discovering this musical creation of Thomas Calder, TTWT have become one of my favorite bands EVER.


I recently had the “out of body experience” equivalent pleasure of catching their final performance for the 'Rookie' tour at The Zoo in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. But this time instead of writing a million or so words describing how great they are (as I have done several times in the recent past) I thought the best way to show off the performing skills of this “beyond their years” talented band is in the form of still and motion image.

“Didn’t want a leg to snap SO, spent six months in a cast OH, just to be safe.” The Show started in a blaze, opening with the popular single 'Six Months In A Cast'.

Tom's original two band members beautiful Betty and handsome Hugh exuding quiet confidence and super “cool as a cucumberness”.

Tom and sterling Sam, finger thrusting their stringed instruments like an extension of their own bodies…

“You are new! Never seen that face before. Punched in school. I guess that’s what those scars are for.” Ravishing Ritchie providing the backbones to lift Tom’s poignant lyrics.
 

TTWT started as Tom's solo project. With his powerful command over the "light and dark" of emotional performance, Tom sure knows how to hold his own on stage performing 'Secret Pastures' alone.

Gigging can be a hair-raising experience for everyone involved.

“I’ll get that for you Comrade!” Betty fixing up Tom’s guitar strap that has fallen off… It happened a couple more times after this. No biggie! Better a guitar strap than breaking a snare drum like Ritchie managed to do the last time I saw them.

Not just on keys, in the vocal department Betty sure can hold her own.

The treat of the night was a new song; 'I Want Love'

Sam was trying hard to think of a joke while tuning took place. It’s his thing and the cutest bit is he often can’t think of a joke. Adorable much?

“SEBASTIAAAAAN! SEBASTIAAAAAN!” Intense? You bet! 'Lint' is one of the most powerful songs and a great way to finish the set. Encore!


Tom’s ability to show complete vulnerability is what makes him special as a performer. In the encore performance of Bleeders at times it seemed he was close to choking up. REAL EMOTION!

If you ever have the opportunity to check out this band I strongly urge you to do so. They may be young and have only been performing as a band for a short time though it feels more like you’re watching a world-class band at the top of their game. They exuded confidence yet remain humble, each an essential piece in the talented, passionate puzzle that is The Trouble With Templeton.

Gig Review - The Blackwater Fever

The Blackwater Fever

with Rattlehand, The Good Sports and Boss Moxi

Live @ The Zoo (16/08/13)

Words by Jo Michelmore

Pics by Cordell Sanders

Friday night. It had been a long week. I arrived home from work late, confused about the weather, wondering what to wear now that winter seemed to have disappeared. I threw on my favourite boots and rushed out the door to face: traffic. This particular Friday night, there seemed to be a magnetic force between my car and every red light, forcing me to stop hundreds (ok, an exaggeration) of times between my house and the Valley. This did not make me a happy live music lover.

Things got interesting at one particular set of lights. Parked in a mini traffic jam outside The Zoo, staring at another red light, I put my windows down to start the first part of my night. I could hear a familiar sound that often wafts across Ann Street; the sound of guitars and drums entertaining the punters inside and the street people outside. I'm so sorry Boss Moxi! Their pseudo psychedelic 70's style rock sounds are ones I know I would have liked, as from my car they sounded impressive, so I'm hoping I get to witness this for myself sometime soon. I might have been sitting at red light, but I gave Boss Moxi a green light from the drivers seat.




By the time I'd fought the traffic on the roads and the pedestrian traffic on the footpaths, the interesting sight of two 'Australia' beanies, a guy from the 60's and two hipsters awaited me on The Zoo stage. The Good Sports were such an interesting mix of fashion from numerous decades, I really wasn't sure what to expect, but the surf rock sounds that came from the amps were great. I couldn't understand a word of what was said due to the extreme reverb, I couldn't figure out if they were a joke band or not, but they were definitely fun.

The fun was confirmed when drinks were delivered to the stage by friends and the song that seemed their strongest ended the set with a "this is our last song. No, wait, that was our last song..." after they finished. That made me laugh, in a good way and The Good Sports clearly had a lot of fun, which is what counts most. Another green light given for band that had a good time and gave a good time.



By the time Rattlehand took to the stage, I was immediately impressed. Clearly, from the very first note of the first song, this is a band that know their blues, know their country, know their talent and aren't aren't afraid to indulge in all of those things. Powering through a set of bluegrass, country and rock, I couldn't help but sway and get lost in some intense story telling lyrics that all good country blues bands should be.

Engaging the crowd in conversation, I wasn't prepared for how good Rattlehand were and they got even better when they invited the audience to the stage to collect a 'free song in a bottle'. Yes please. Download very appreciated! Finishing with 'Wellhead Blues', a song with a special message; "don't fuck the world!", this is a band I am a definite fan of and look forward to hearing more of the their goodness. Yes, Rattlehand deserved a big green light in my Friday night.



This gig of The Blackwater Fever is one I'd been waiting to see for a while. After falling for their awesome dirty rock blues last year at a gig they played with Gin Wigmore, then becoming a confirmed fan at the release of their album The Depths earlier this year, I knew I was going to witness something special on Friday night. Opening with the deep, dark sounds of 'When The Night Comes', they proved they're a band not to mess with. Although the crowd wasn't huge, it seemed that the intense sounds drew every person in the venue to the stage, Shane Hicks' vocal dragging the people from the bar to the front and Jed A. Walters' dramatic stage presence hard to ignore.

Sometimes blues, sometimes driving drums, sometimes simple rock n roll, sometimes magical keys, they were the band I had expected, totally amazing, a little enigmatic and a lot of impressive, it was hard not to move and sing along to tracks like 'Won't Cry Over You' and it was hard not to be in awe of the drumming skills of Andrew Walter on songs like 'Seven White Horses'.

The three guys that are The Blackwater Fever make up one of those bands that were born to perform. The dramatic pause between 'Don't Fuck With Joe' and 'Now She's Gone' proved that they think about their performance, they love what they do and they like to reward those that make the effort to see them. To watch them perform songs like 'Can't Help Yourself' with such intensity and 'Oh Deceit' with such vigour was such a pleasure, this is the type of band that makes seeing live music so much fun and makes me keep fighting traffic to get to gigs over and over again. The Blackwater Fever? I give you the biggest green light of the night, you were worth every red light I faced to get there and I'd sit through a hundred more to see you play again!


You can check out some pics from the gig (and a heap of other gigs too!) over on facebook and also on instagram! 

Gig Review - Texas Tea (28/10/12)

TEXAS TEA

Live @ The Zoo, Brisbane.

Supported by: The Gin Club, The Madisons and James X. Boyd and The CEOs

Despite The Zoo's ridiculous ban of rum, it was impossible to resist the lure of Texas Tea's Kate Jacobson and Benjamin Dougherty as they brought their Sad Summer Hits tour home to Brisbane on Friday night. We walked in with the very retro, the very awesome and the very Hawaiian shirt wearing band The Madisons introducing, "a song about summer. It's called 'Summer Time'." I see what you did there. These five Brisbane ladies are definitely ones to look out for. Switching up the vocal lead, you've got four distinct voices that ranged from soulful (lady on the keys!) to fierce rocker (second from the left!) and, of course, everyone can pull off the doo-wops required of a sixties surf rock outfit. Release an album. I'd buy it. The Beards The Gin Club were up next; another local act comprised of talented multi-instrumentalists that rotated the vocal lead. As the crowd started to build up, The Gin Club delivered a pretty powerful set that earned a bigger response after each song.

11:10pm and the night's headliners were ready to go; Jacobson looking lovely, Dougherty's hair defying gravity. Along with their rhythm section of Myka Wallace (aka Brisbane's best drummer) and Glen Russell on bass (all mustaches pale in comparison to his), Texas Tea filled The Zoo with the sounds of incredible alt-country tunes, Elvis inspired ballads and a couple of classy covers. Their new album Sad Summer Hits is a really great listen and absolutely one of the best albums released this year, but hearing the songs performed live puts them on another level. Bands that sound even better live than recorded are a rare breed and Texas Tea definitely belong in that exclusive category. Jacobson's voice is larger than life throughout 'Lily;' the high notes she can effortlessly reach will bring a huge smile to your face. There's so much more to appreciate about Dougherty's speak/sing vocal style when you can see the expressions on his face during 'I Know That I Let You Down This Time.' 

We've said it in previous reviews, but when Jacobson and Dougherty let their powers combine, magic happens. The heartbreaking duet that leaves little to the imagination, 'I Love You Like I Love This Black Eye,' was the standout performance of the night. Whoever planned out the lighting gets a big gold star, as the spotlight fell on each singer as they took the lead to detail the awful realities of their toxic relationship before the lights came up on both as they asked, "why do I do these things to you?" 'I Don't Write No Sad Songs' had everyone up on their feet and The Madisons were invited on stage for support on 'Heart Says Yes (Head Says No),' adding another special dimension to what could be the best song of 2012. As Jacobson chatted about the ballad 'Wedding Belle,' she explained how she always wanted to write a song worthy of Elvis Presley. She came up with a story for an Elvis film about a poor young fella chasing after the gold digging leading lady as inspiration for the track. Jacobson believes that it's the closest she's gotten to writing a track The King could have sung. I believe the crowd on Friday would agree that Elvis would have been lucky to sing a song of its caliber.

Texas Tea have worked their way onto a list of mine reserved for bands that I'm going to go see every time I see they're playing nearby. Each show I've seen has been fun, the music has been amazing, the banter makes me laugh. Jacobson detailed their recent not-so-packed show in Tasmania, made up of the band, the support acts and one old woman "who had come down from the mountains." They even have their own teaspoons and napkins. I'm still waiting for my friend Sophie's review of the teaspoon and if it did/didn't enhance her tea experience, but I'm fairly positive it would have. It's a Texas Tea-spoon and apparently they can do no wrong. "Buy two and start your own band." Great advice. There's only two shows left on the Sad Summer Hits tour; tonight at Toowoomba's Spotted Cow and November 3 in Sydney at The Newsagency. I'm not going to say go out of your way and fly to Sydney to watch Texas Tea perform next Saturday, but if you're in Sydney next Saturday - go and see them! Oh, and if you're not in Sydney, you should probably go out of your way and fly/drive/get a train/get a bus/hitchhike to get there to see Texas Tea. What?