Belmont 16 Footers, Newcastle
Friday July 11, 2014 :
The weather might have been freezing outside but the welcome return of The McClymonts to Belmont on Friday night certainly heated things up inside. Playing to a full house, the girls looked pumped to be playing live again.
2013 was a touring sabbatical for the trio from Grafton, opting to write and record their fourth studio album, Here’s To You & I. The McClymonts made up of sister’s Brooke, Sam and Mollie can now be considered veteran’s on the Australian country music scene. Since their debut album, Chaos and Bright Lights, in 2007, the girls have toured constantly both here and overseas. In 2012 the girls made a major assault on the American market spending considerable time visiting there. Having not seen the girls perform for a number of months, I was keen to hear what new material they were going to bring to the table.
The show itself read like the old wedding chestnut – something old, something new – which turned out to be the order of the night. Weddings was an appropriate theme for the night given sister Sam is about to embark on that adventure. ‘Forever Begins Tonight’ was written for Sam’s wedding. Confessing to the audience, Sam said “the song may be written for me but I won’t be singing a wedding song with my sisters to my new husband, that would just be weird.” Other highlights of the evening included sister Mollie’s debut as lead singer with ‘Heartbreaks’, again from the new album. The hits flowed in between the new stuff including ‘Kick It Up’, ‘Wrapped Up Good’, ‘Hearts On Fire’, ‘How Long Have You Known’ and ‘Two World’s Collide’. The two hits from the new album ‘Going Under (Didn’t Have To)’, and ‘You and I’ were very well received.
Here’s To You & I is another hit album from the country trio daring to cross the controversial pop country barrier. The album was recorded here in Australia which is a stark comparison to the girl’s three previous albums which were recorded in Music City, Nashville. The girl’s sound on stage remains pitch perfect, the stage show vibrant and energetic as ever leaving the audience wanting more. Expect a couple more golden guitars to join the two the girls have won previously in Tamworth next January.
With regards to the support act, I personally feel embarrassed to call the Adam Eckersley Band a support. They are far from it. This five piece band is seriously one of the most underrated talents at the moment in this country. Eckersley himself is a skilful and elegant craftsman on guitar. Being at home on electric or acoustic, he commands a strong stage presence. The inclusion of Duncan Toombs (equipped with regulation band member beard) adds tightness to these talented instrumentalists. Playing songs from the band’s debut full album, Full Tilt Freakout, it was a pleasure to catch the limited seven track set, but I was seriously left hungry. Confirming the commitment between Eckersley and Brooke McClymont who for those of you that don’t know are husband and wife was the beautiful ballad ‘Give Her The World’ which was very well received by the full house.
Overall this concert wass quality packed from start to finish. On top of that both band’s albums are defiantly worth a purchase, thoroughly enjoyed.
Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson
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