Wellyn, Silver City Highway @Northcote Social Club(6/06/08)

Thu 12th Jun, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Walking into the band room at the Social Club punters were confronted with the stage set up for support act Silver City Highway. Having never seen these guys, but after hearing much about them, the crowded stage only served to fuel the anticipation. Drums, keys, a lap slide guitar, microphones, guitars and a huge double bass lying resplendently on its side all provided an intriguing introduction. Silver City Highway sees the coming together of some of Melbourne’s premier musicians from some of this city’s best bands, including Redfish Bluegrass and Sub Audible Hum. Once the seven members of the band appeared and confidently picked up their respective instruments, it certainly looked like we were in for a treat. And indeed we were.

Initially the tones of the keys reminded me of Breakfast At Sweethearts by Cold Chisel, but that comparison was swiftly washed away in a heady wave of swirling guitars, harmonicas, keys and vocals. Silver City Highway are akin to Nick Cave singing on a pirate ship, the Kill Devil Hills and pleasingly the musicians own – œregular’ bands. At times a wash of noise, at times subtle and restrained, but always a class act, Silver City Highway certainly started the night in an amazing fashion. Granted some of the instruments were lost in the mix, but this is a breed of music that does not rely solely on perfect sound. Drunken blues country with lashes of good old rock power, Silver City Highway conjure visions of dusty landscapes, never ending country roads and beers in the local pub, whether it be in Fitzroy or Broken Hill. Excellent.

After a quick cigarette I returned to a band room full of smoke itself. This was from a machine onstage though, as Wellyn were pulling out all the stops tonight for the launch of their album An Intimate Universe. And why not? Throughout the set the band (featuring Nedd Jones on lead vocals and guitar, Peter Uhlenbruch on lead guitars, Justin Ridge on bass, Peter Spark on drums and Matty Quinn on keys) would attempt to capture the exquisite melodies and textured layers of their stunning debut. They not only captured the beauty of said album, they practically blew it away. I was struck by the beauty of it all, and to be honest felt proud. Harnessing influences such as Elbow, Travis and Doves, each song was over too early, while the next one didn’t allow you to savour the last.

The entire set unfolded into something of a lovely mess of tender moments, vocal harmonies, emotive yet raucous guitars, all underpinned with wonderful keys and subtlety tight bass and drums. Wellyn made you want to cry but never gave you the chance as you were simply swept away with them on their journey through love and loss, heartache and strength. I believe it may have been one of the best shows I have seen in some time. It was one of those events where for years to come the people who went will have a secret bond, like those who witnessed Jeff Buckley before he passed, and will always remember what they saw, and what they heard. And how they felt.

The set ended with something of a gospel pirate shanty as the band welcomed guest vocalists and musicians to the stage to perform The White House. Soaring vocals provided by everyone on stage, including newcomers Van and Cal Walker, Dan and Joel Griffith, Jimmy Stewart and Beau Addison, were initially accompanied only by a resounding drum beat, before the entire array of instruments were let loose upon to create one final ethereal wave of noise and beauty. Wellyn were, and are, simply outstanding.