Once upon a time, on an icy winter’s night in a magical land far, far away (okay, so the ANU Bar isn’t that far from Garran, I lie) a small but devoted throng of youngsters assembled to get their booze on and witness some stellar interstate musical talent.
First up was the lovely Ms Sianna Lee, frontwoman of the now on indefinite hiatus Melbourne band Love Outside Andromeda. Playing sans band on the first show of this nation-wide tour clearly didn’t faze Lee, as she strummed her way through a number of tender ballads that had more than one audience member comparing her to the great English songstress PJ Harvey.
After a brief but intimate set, Ms Lee made way for the pint-sized powerhouse that is theredsunband (and no, that’s not a spelling mistake). Fronted by the sisters Kelly – with Sarah on guitar/vocals and Lizzie on keys – and assisted on drums by an aesthetically pleasing young lad named Jasper (for those unaware of their history, theredsunband seem to go through drummers as often as Amy Winehouse goes through lines of cocaine), the band launched into a set that was a non-stop assault on eardrums and nearby windows alike.
It’d be fair to say that theredsunband like a bit of distortion. It’d be even more accurate to say that they can’t get enough of the stuff! Their chunky riffs, droning synth-bass and crashing drums all combined to create a massive wall of sound that would have made even the most diehard Sonic Youth fan proud. And atop it all floated Sarah’s enchanting yet slightly deranged vocals. Though she may be small in stature, on some songs (such as the cover of Bill Callahan’s Bathysphere and epic closer Lonely Children from new album The Shiralee) it sounded as if she was channelling the raw emotion and tortured wailing not heard since Cat Power’s early material.
All comparisons aside, theredsunband are a truly talented group in their own right and thoroughly impressed all in attendance. A couple of happy snaps and a poster signing later, this reviewer went home and lived happily ever after.
First up was the lovely Ms Sianna Lee, frontwoman of the now on indefinite hiatus Melbourne band Love Outside Andromeda. Playing sans band on the first show of this nation-wide tour clearly didn’t faze Lee, as she strummed her way through a number of tender ballads that had more than one audience member comparing her to the great English songstress PJ Harvey.
After a brief but intimate set, Ms Lee made way for the pint-sized powerhouse that is theredsunband (and no, that’s not a spelling mistake). Fronted by the sisters Kelly – with Sarah on guitar/vocals and Lizzie on keys – and assisted on drums by an aesthetically pleasing young lad named Jasper (for those unaware of their history, theredsunband seem to go through drummers as often as Amy Winehouse goes through lines of cocaine), the band launched into a set that was a non-stop assault on eardrums and nearby windows alike.
It’d be fair to say that theredsunband like a bit of distortion. It’d be even more accurate to say that they can’t get enough of the stuff! Their chunky riffs, droning synth-bass and crashing drums all combined to create a massive wall of sound that would have made even the most diehard Sonic Youth fan proud. And atop it all floated Sarah’s enchanting yet slightly deranged vocals. Though she may be small in stature, on some songs (such as the cover of Bill Callahan’s Bathysphere and epic closer Lonely Children from new album The Shiralee) it sounded as if she was channelling the raw emotion and tortured wailing not heard since Cat Power’s early material.
All comparisons aside, theredsunband are a truly talented group in their own right and thoroughly impressed all in attendance. A couple of happy snaps and a poster signing later, this reviewer went home and lived happily ever after.
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