Andy Bull, Spring Skier, Pluto Jonze @ GoodGod Small Club, Sydney (26/08/2011)
It was already standing room only, and the crowd were easily seduced into moving along to the rock-pop-synth rhythms of Pluto Jonze, and their guitar, keys and drums combo.
The Mexican decor in the Danceteria Small Bar at GoodGod lightens the crowded atmosphere as Spirit Skier take the stage. A side project of Hungry Birds of Hungary, they've been described as a modern day Simon & Garfunkel. They seemed at times reminiscent of Wings, with their easy male harmonies.
In stark contrast to the opening act, Spring Skier still caused the crowd to stir, using only a guitar and keyboard, and threw in the mouth organ once or twice. Mellow, but worked upbeat, the vocals constantly reminding you of so many of the songs you've heard, but not one you could name. They split the difference on the last song of their set, switching lead vocals and delivering a more familiar, but seldom heard, vibe that could just as easily have come from somewhere deep in the early 70's.
Andy Bull opened with My Street after setting himself at the keyboard, announced to an exclaimed welcome.
He brings his Phantom Pains EP to life with a jazzy live set, using the classic combination of drums, keys and guitar. After leaving the crowd loving the title track, moved onto Slipping Away, with a lot of instrumental, heavy electric sounds filled in with decent beats and vocal effects. The guitar then adds to this in layers. When The Penny Drops worked the crowd into a frenzy before Andy introduced the band's Like A Version cover for Triple J. Beginning with a modest rant and ending with the point of expressing the need of doing what you love, dedicated the following Everybody Wants To Rule The World to Muammar Gaddafi.
Although Andy's songs are short and sweet, they are to the point, and still pack a punch. The Tears For Fears cover was unique and personally styled to Andy's talents and arrangements. The songs are feeling that they're over too soon, but that only seems to heighten the enjoyment they bring. Though not the Bardot song, they were discussed in the intro to the next track, Poison. A set mixed with songs from the current EP, and a sneak peak into some new material was promised, and it was definitely a promise made good.
Spring Skier joined Andy, Dave and Alex on stage for Last Waltz, which is a collaboration they also share on Phantom Pains. They were definitely able to sustain the room's full attention. Reminiscent of a 60's swing classic, engaging the crowd in the Twist, Nothing To Lose, with some deadly backbeats, also contained some powerful vocals and wonderful vocal effects, without an effects pedal in sight.
Although some punters left prior to encore, which thankfully vented the now rather humid 'Small Club', Andy assuredly turned the temperature straight back up, even with a somewhat quieter finale number – Work Is A Slow Way To Die.
Colin Murphy
The Mexican decor in the Danceteria Small Bar at GoodGod lightens the crowded atmosphere as Spirit Skier take the stage. A side project of Hungry Birds of Hungary, they've been described as a modern day Simon & Garfunkel. They seemed at times reminiscent of Wings, with their easy male harmonies.
In stark contrast to the opening act, Spring Skier still caused the crowd to stir, using only a guitar and keyboard, and threw in the mouth organ once or twice. Mellow, but worked upbeat, the vocals constantly reminding you of so many of the songs you've heard, but not one you could name. They split the difference on the last song of their set, switching lead vocals and delivering a more familiar, but seldom heard, vibe that could just as easily have come from somewhere deep in the early 70's.
Andy Bull opened with My Street after setting himself at the keyboard, announced to an exclaimed welcome.
He brings his Phantom Pains EP to life with a jazzy live set, using the classic combination of drums, keys and guitar. After leaving the crowd loving the title track, moved onto Slipping Away, with a lot of instrumental, heavy electric sounds filled in with decent beats and vocal effects. The guitar then adds to this in layers. When The Penny Drops worked the crowd into a frenzy before Andy introduced the band's Like A Version cover for Triple J. Beginning with a modest rant and ending with the point of expressing the need of doing what you love, dedicated the following Everybody Wants To Rule The World to Muammar Gaddafi.
Although Andy's songs are short and sweet, they are to the point, and still pack a punch. The Tears For Fears cover was unique and personally styled to Andy's talents and arrangements. The songs are feeling that they're over too soon, but that only seems to heighten the enjoyment they bring. Though not the Bardot song, they were discussed in the intro to the next track, Poison. A set mixed with songs from the current EP, and a sneak peak into some new material was promised, and it was definitely a promise made good.
Spring Skier joined Andy, Dave and Alex on stage for Last Waltz, which is a collaboration they also share on Phantom Pains. They were definitely able to sustain the room's full attention. Reminiscent of a 60's swing classic, engaging the crowd in the Twist, Nothing To Lose, with some deadly backbeats, also contained some powerful vocals and wonderful vocal effects, without an effects pedal in sight.
Although some punters left prior to encore, which thankfully vented the now rather humid 'Small Club', Andy assuredly turned the temperature straight back up, even with a somewhat quieter finale number – Work Is A Slow Way To Die.
Colin Murphy