Eskimo Joe, Myles Mayo, Felicity Groom @ The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne (27/05/2011)
With just a few months (August, to be exact) until Eskimo Joe’s fifth LP release, the band decided to road test new material and old favourites through a semi acoustic tour around the country. Conceived through public demand after a series of spontaneous gigs in Perth, these one off and very intimate club shows were a welcome change from the large venue gigs of recent times.
Opening act (and recent WAMi award winner) Felicity Groom gave an honest and engaging performance. Backed only by a single guitarist, Groom spent a majority of the set performing with an electric harp. With at least half the venue full, all eyes and ears were on her as she captivated the audience and no doubt left a few new fans in her wake.
Myles Mayo was tonight performing as a duo, rather than a full band and just like Eskimo Joes set later in the night, it was a semi acoustic performance. Confidence high, Myles Mayo gave a performance of mixed genres. With a hint of Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours in one track, one moment the set was country and the next folk and a bit of rock n roll. Myles Mayo warmed the crowd up as well as he could, delivering a set that was equally impressive as it was strong, yet it still felt like it was lacking something. He’ll be back with the full band soon and is certainly worth checking out.
It’s almost 11:15pm by the time Eskimo Joe hit the stage and the crowd are getting noticeably restless. I’m suddenly knocked on the shoulder, only to see the band shuffle past me, making their way to the confines of the stage. Opening with New York, we’re immediately met with a stripped back and beautiful rendition of the song. It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen Eskimo Joe live, but the moment Kav begins singing, I’m reminded as to why the live show is at a level above most other Australian acts.
Seven Veils and new single When We Were Kids receive a welcome reception as expected. And even though the set is already of the highest class, it’s with Sarah in which Eskimo Joe really kick the set up a notch. Despite being a semi-acoustic show, Sarah is the one song that seems to have retained its rock n’ roll roots tonight.
London Bombs is naturally a somber moment in the set, and Planet Earth is an unexpected but welcome inclusion. A hilarious moment ensued when Kav forgot the lyrics to Don’t Let Me Down, a moment Stuart referenced as a ‘brain fart.’ Awkwardly the fans were either too shy to start the song again or had also forgotten the lyrics. So we had a few options; new lyrics, sing the chorus four times or mumble. In the end, the trust iPhone came through, with Kav listening to the song from a fan and holding it up into the microphone, with surprisingly very little fuzzy speaker feedback.
The set was closed wonderfully with a stripped back Foreign Land and Black Fingernails Red Wine, but it was with new song Echoes that the set had its highlight. Judging by the crowds’ reaction and the style in which it was performed, it has potential to become some of Eskimo Joes best work yet.
The gig was well past its estimated finishing time, but the crowd wanted more and Eskimo Joe delivered with a new track entitled Love Is A Drug and of course, the classic and soul stirring From The Sea. What Eskimo Joe set would be complete without it? If only we got Sweater.
The 1am public transport and a taxi ride home don’t deter from the fresh memories of a great night of old classics, fan favourites and a preview of what’s to come in the world of Eskimo Joe. And not to mention the free parting gift, a 7” vinyl of When We Were Kids. I’m crossing my fingers for a recorded release, it was a show I know I’d love to revisit again and again.
Luke Sutton
Opening act (and recent WAMi award winner) Felicity Groom gave an honest and engaging performance. Backed only by a single guitarist, Groom spent a majority of the set performing with an electric harp. With at least half the venue full, all eyes and ears were on her as she captivated the audience and no doubt left a few new fans in her wake.
Myles Mayo was tonight performing as a duo, rather than a full band and just like Eskimo Joes set later in the night, it was a semi acoustic performance. Confidence high, Myles Mayo gave a performance of mixed genres. With a hint of Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours in one track, one moment the set was country and the next folk and a bit of rock n roll. Myles Mayo warmed the crowd up as well as he could, delivering a set that was equally impressive as it was strong, yet it still felt like it was lacking something. He’ll be back with the full band soon and is certainly worth checking out.
It’s almost 11:15pm by the time Eskimo Joe hit the stage and the crowd are getting noticeably restless. I’m suddenly knocked on the shoulder, only to see the band shuffle past me, making their way to the confines of the stage. Opening with New York, we’re immediately met with a stripped back and beautiful rendition of the song. It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen Eskimo Joe live, but the moment Kav begins singing, I’m reminded as to why the live show is at a level above most other Australian acts.
Seven Veils and new single When We Were Kids receive a welcome reception as expected. And even though the set is already of the highest class, it’s with Sarah in which Eskimo Joe really kick the set up a notch. Despite being a semi-acoustic show, Sarah is the one song that seems to have retained its rock n’ roll roots tonight.
London Bombs is naturally a somber moment in the set, and Planet Earth is an unexpected but welcome inclusion. A hilarious moment ensued when Kav forgot the lyrics to Don’t Let Me Down, a moment Stuart referenced as a ‘brain fart.’ Awkwardly the fans were either too shy to start the song again or had also forgotten the lyrics. So we had a few options; new lyrics, sing the chorus four times or mumble. In the end, the trust iPhone came through, with Kav listening to the song from a fan and holding it up into the microphone, with surprisingly very little fuzzy speaker feedback.
The set was closed wonderfully with a stripped back Foreign Land and Black Fingernails Red Wine, but it was with new song Echoes that the set had its highlight. Judging by the crowds’ reaction and the style in which it was performed, it has potential to become some of Eskimo Joes best work yet.
The gig was well past its estimated finishing time, but the crowd wanted more and Eskimo Joe delivered with a new track entitled Love Is A Drug and of course, the classic and soul stirring From The Sea. What Eskimo Joe set would be complete without it? If only we got Sweater.
The 1am public transport and a taxi ride home don’t deter from the fresh memories of a great night of old classics, fan favourites and a preview of what’s to come in the world of Eskimo Joe. And not to mention the free parting gift, a 7” vinyl of When We Were Kids. I’m crossing my fingers for a recorded release, it was a show I know I’d love to revisit again and again.
Luke Sutton