After a brief solo acoustic sojourn, Jeff Martin has returned to the rock world to unleash his new three piece – The Armada. Something fans and critics alike have been longing for since The Tea Party split in 2005.Since Martin resided here at one stage and married a Perth girl, it seems fitting that he ended his new project’s maiden voyage in his second, (or third) home.

A reasonable crowd had assembled as The Armada hit the stage, the ominous presence of Martin creating a buzz in the unusual venue that is the fly by night club. Morocco from the debut disc was the opening track of choice, bringing the punters to life along with an early return to the past with Overcome.

A particular highlight was a number called Black Snake Blues, which Martin weaved Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love and The Doors Roadhouse Blues into the resonating slide guitar track.

The material off The Armada’s debut album is solid and of high standard, however given Jeff Martin’s past of the Tea Party, and his stripped back acoustic jaunt, it is hard to compare. Punters seemed eager for The Armada to kick into that all familiar groove of the
aforementioned, and were eventually treated to a few sprinklings melded into newer tracks with The Bazaar, Sister Awake and Save Me-with crowd singalong- making brief appearances.

Martin is undoubtedly a remarkable musician, displaying his many talents with slide, acoustic and straight up rock guitar with pitch perfect vocals, at one point singing perfectly over a flatly tuned guitar. The backing of new bandmates bassist Gareth Forsyth and Wayne Sheehy on drums was super tight and extremely proficient, but due to this new incarnation being more of a dictatorship than a democracy, they lacked unity.

Perhaps a familiarity of the newer tracks would’ve changed the perspective of the night, as The Armada felt like a watered down version of his past work. Time will tell if they can quench the longing thirst of Tea Party and Jeff Martin fans worldwide.

Gallery by Mojojay