Following on from my overview of Toronto’s CMW for 2014, a review of Broods and a bunch of interviews, photo galleries and tour diaries, it’s finally time to get to more of the Australian music at the event. But honestly, I saw too much great Australian music in too little time. Out of the 26 Australian artists in attendance, I managed to catch 15 of them… sometimes only briefly. So, I’m delivering some bite-size reviews! So, alphabetically*, here are my thoughts for the final five, from The Black Lullaby to You Am I!
T is for The Black Lullaby
Where? The Aussie BBQ at Horseshoe Tavern
When? 10th May 2014.
This Lismore four piece were given the duty of opening the Aussie BBQ for 2014, and they did so in style, with “Hold Onto Your Hats” proving a highlight of the half an hour set. Ange Saul, who leads the group, rocks it – to say the very least – with a stellar voice. A band I think you need to see live to get the full experience…
T is for The Lazys
Where? The Aussie BBQ at Horseshoe Tavern
When? 10th May 2014.
Speaking of rockin’ it, this five piece out of Terrigal are experts at it by now… pumping out short, fast and loud tracks with great melodies. They come from the tradition of great Aussie rock bands like AC/DC, but inject their own brand of punk into the mix. But they are by no means a punk rock band. They just don’t give a shit. It’s hard to explain… you just have to experience them for yourselves. And given they often jump into the crowd and onto the bars that surround them (as they did at the BBQ), you won’t be given much of a choice but to be a part of all the action.
T is for Tully on Tully
Where? The Aussie BBQ at Horseshoe Tavern
When? 10th May 2014.
This is a really solid band, with a stellar sound out of Melbourne. “Quiet Company” was a favourite of the set, featuring lead vocalist Nat Foster on the ukulele. There are elements of No Doubt in there (the early years… the best stuff), and even Kate Miller-Heidke – Nat’s voice is just that good. But they are perhaps without comparison. Sure to make a name for themselves in the years to come.
T is for Twin Lakes (PICTURED)
Where? C’est What?
When? 8th May 2014.
Opening up the set with “Lost Mirrors”, the ambient melodies from the two guitarists helped start the song as the drums, bass and synth kicked in, seeing the song from the Newcastle based five piece build and build… it was as perfect an opener as I’d ever seen. “Moons” followed, with the second guitarist taking over lead vocal duties and the former lead moving onto a beautiful red acoustic. He would return to vocal duties for the remainder of the set, from the melodic beauty of “High Fives”, back to the epic build of “Hoodlems”. In spite of the shifting tone, there was a unique cohesion to their set… everything felt very well thought out. This is a tight band, with the songs to back it up. And though the venue was a little awkward, the sound was great and their set seemed well received. Well, I certainly couldn’t get enough…
Y is for You Am I
Where? The Aussie BBQ at Horseshoe Tavern
When? 10th May 2014.
Without a doubt one of the biggest bands to ever grace the stages of the Aussie BBQ, You Am I suitably bring our series on Australian bands in Canada to an end. Tim Rogers arrived on stage to close the BBQ under the persona of a band from Oxford, Tennessee – strangely with a British accent – reminding the crowd “…we may not be in tune, but good God do we move well” as they lunged right into their set of “obscure cult hits” and, naturally, some superb banter from the charismatic frontman. “My morning drink is the kiss of another…”. The set included tracks like “Gunslingers” and “Berlin Chair”, which closed things out. What a pleasure it was to see this veteran Aussie rock band, sweating it up in a legendary (and intimate) venue like the Horseshoe.
If this wasn’t the most rockin’ Aussie BBQ the long-running event has ever seen, I don’t know what is…
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Want more? Part one of this series is HERE and part two is HERE.
*OK, so after we got to part three of the article we realized the “The” bands should have been alphabetized sans the “The”. Alas, now it is too late to change it. tsk tsk. Lesson learnt for next time…?
