Combine a 6pm start, with a rainy Sunday evening, and the fact that everyone who lives near the Annandale would have just been getting home from the Newtown Festival – PLUS the fact that very few people have ever heard of Mark Steiner (more would have heard of the fantastic Des Miller, however) – and you’ve got yourself the perfect cocktail for an empty concert hall.
And that’s exactly what happened on Sunday night at the Annandale, which remained hauntingly empty for the entirety of the performance – but that didn’t stop the musicians from having a good time and making the most of it. And the staff were nice enough to lay out couches on the dance floor for the rest of us. Intimate, indeed. But it just made it all a little… awkward?
Des Miller opened up proceedings, giving us a taste of his Bob Dylan inspired melodies, with a good bit of Keyboard thrown in for good measure – I couldn’t help but think what a nice way to spend an early Sunday evening it was. And speaking for the rest of us (there were maybe 4 at this stage), he said he “thought that the Newtown Festival would make their way here”. But this didn’t keep him from playing a great set. “Left Out Alright” is of particular mention, while “Knife Edge” ended the set, with a brilliant digital drum background to bring the set to an end in style.
Simon and Garfunkel made an appearance as the intermission CD, and kept the relaxed vibes going, as the management filled the front of the venue up with some foam couches. Well now I just wanted to listen to the music and have a nap at the same time, beer in hand. Less people should come to gigs I’m at more often!
Leone Carmen was up next, who would go on to share the stage with Mark for much of his solo set. Leone is a performer who really isn’t an impressive singer, or even guitarist, by traditional means – but she can actually put a decent song together, and had an enjoyable set, which ended with a duet with Mark – whose deep voice contrasted well against her higher pitches.
There’s a very Johnny Cash style to Mark Steiner‘s voice, opening his set with “Niche” – on which Leone also performed. He seems to have spent quite a lot of time down under – with track “Sea of Disappointment” being recorded the last time he was in town. In one of the more humourous moments of the evening, Mark did a solo duet, singing both the part of the man and a french woman – calling is Scandinavian multiple personality disorder, for the track “This World”. Why Scandinavian? Well, Mark is based out of Norway – but much like Rodrigo y Gabriela are clearly not from Ireland, Mark is clearly not from Norway – his heavy American accent coming through every note.
He turned back to Leone for a real duet in “Beautiful Thief”, a highlight of the evening – and the set ended with a song called Beijinhos – which means kisses in Portugese. And despite the fact his “guitar is not a fan of air travel”, it sounded pretty damn alright throughout the entire show.
Indeed, it was dead, and a little bit awkward, but all the performers gave it their all, and made it an enjoyable, relaxing way to spend a Sunday evening.
Photo by Janne Rugland, From Mark’s Myspace Page
