Small Ballroom, Newcastle
Friday November 15, 2013 :
Flying solo to a gig always has the potential for being a whole lot of awkward or a crazy night you’ll never forget. My night was a bit of both, but it mostly leaned towards the awkward side of things. When a room is pretty much empty and you’re sitting with a stein of cider in a corner by yourself with limited phone battery, it’s fairly obvious to everyone that you’re alone. The John Steel Singers weren’t due to come on for another two hours so I prayed that the support acts would deliver.
I caught the last two songs from Newcastle band Goldsmith, who were playing to a room of about 15 people consisting of Go Violets, The John Steel Singers and a few friends. It was a shame that they didn’t have a bigger crowd because they certainly deserved one. A super tight sound with an effortlessly fun stage persona mixed with vintage style gives Goldsmith their edge. Described as ‘Donnie G and Friends’ in almost every case, it took some digging to find these mysterious ‘friends’ names. I won’t reveal them all but vocalist Asher Morrison gets a mention for his gawky dance moves and distinctive white headphones worn over his orange curls.
A tall balding man in an open suit jacket with a bushy handlebar moustache walks onto the stage and I’m instantly intrigued. Donny Benet is not at all what I expected! From Vegas to Newcastle and a transformation from ‘disco accordionist’ to an eager Ableton user for those sensual disco beats, Benet has created a name for himself. Cheesy eighties backings with a slight modern twist and slick seductive vocals is Benet in a nutshell. With songs like ‘Sophisticated Lover’, ‘Treat Yourself’ and ‘She’s Too Much’, it was hard not to cringe but I’m not going to lie, it was darn entertaining. A jack-of-all-trades, he switched between his guitar, synthesiser and laptop throughout the set. He had the guys from Goldsmith and The John Steel Singers pulling out all the moves on the dance floor. Goldsmith definitely took out the prize for the most creative dance performance, which you can watch on their facebook page (I recommend you do!).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=548044608614423&set=vb.202920689793485&type=2&theater
Comparable to surf pop Americans Best Coast and The Bangles, Brisbane girl band Go Violets were a cool change. With their 90’s garage rock/pop sound they’d fit perfectly on the Ten Things I Hate About You soundtrack. Describing their own sound as ‘Lemon Pop’ and ‘Flower Pop’, I’d say they’re pretty accurate. All four girls show off their multi-instrumental talent, with Alice and Ruby switching roles from guitar to drums and they all sing! Playing a variety of songs from their EP Heart Slice, the girls had the crowd in awe and by the way most of the guys were watching, I bet many of them were wishing they had a slice of their own.
The John Steel Singers hit the stage starting off their set with the first single from their new album, Everything’s A Thread. A recent line up change saw Scott Bromiley take to the bass with Pete Bernoth on keys and brass. Everything’s A Thread features juicy harmonies with intricate but catchy melodies and blended idiosyncratic synthesiser motifs. I can tell by their stage appearance that these guys play music for all the right reasons. Their sound has a distinctive quirkiness about it without being too eccentric, with enough variances in structure to keep you captivated.
‘Masochist’ from previous album Tangalooma prompted Bernoth to pick up his trombone, accompanying drummer Ross Chandler and Bromiley in driving emphasis on the first three beats of every bar. Meanwhile, vocalist/guitarist Tim Morrissey is gulping down a jug of red sangria disappointed that he’d reached the end of the jug, but of course it wasn’t long before it was replaced. The vocals aren’t the centrepiece in many of their tracks, as they are further back in the mix throughout the album. This isn’t quite as noticeable live but the harmonies and song writing really help portray each instrument clearly.
Most of the set featured songs from the new album with a couple from Tangalooma including old favourite ‘Overpass’. Apparently a luxury for us lucky Newcastle fans as the guys randomly decided to give it a whirl after not having played it for some time. The Small Ballroom is a great intimate venue; it really allowed the crowd to absorb the bands relaxed and friendly nature. All and all it was a fun filled gig, even if I was being flung around the dance floor by randoms and getting my hair plaited.
Reviewer: Louie Smith