The Little Stevies @ NorthcoteSocial Club, Melbourne(28/02/2008)

Wed 4th Mar, 2009 in Gig Reviews

I’m going to take a liberty out of the book of The Wedding Singer and quote Robbie Hart for a moment: “Oh man, I know what that guy was feeling.” Shortly after taking a place in the crowded venue, it was wonderful to notice that The Little Stevies’ album launch had the sold out audience glowing from a procession of heart rendering storytelling. So many faces seemed to look around with wide grins, saying “Oh man, I know what they were feeling.”

Yes, the Northcote Social Club couldn’t have catered to a more specific brand of folk pop if it tried. However there was an enjoyable familiarity to be felt between each shoeless muso and their cheesecloth listeners that is pretty unique to the folk-ish clan. Complete with rice paper lanterns lining the stage front it was the kind of late 60s inspired gig that leaves everyone feeling hippy-happy warmth from each acoustic guitar. Assuming you’re into that kind of thing.

Unfortunately my evening started out a little less harmoniously. Stumbling into the NSC after an agonising battle for parking space, I just managed to miss Yelke play their opening set for the evening. This warranted a massive elbow-bending finger snap on my behalf, as I continued to hear great things through the course of the evening. So it is with apology – and vehicle hatred – that I say I certainly plan to keep an open ear for the next opportunity.

By the time I shouldered by way somewhere into the middle of the crowd it seemed that the walls of the club were edging ever-inward, with bodies relentlessly permeating the venue. It would appear The Tealeaves already have a steady following in Melbourne. (I should probably note that with these melting harmonies to hook ourselves onto, it’s really no surprise that people are taking to their self titled debut album). Lead predominantly by James Van Cuylenburg and Jess Wilson on vocals, keys and guitar, the two definitely complement each other musically. It would have been nice to see the more of the rest of the band – talented though they were most of the group appeared a little detached from the kids at the front. Beside Me showcased the potential of this group at its best, with a fantastic playfulness that was perhaps lacking earlier.

That said, this guitar-driven folk ensemble have a sound that is certainly far from limited! I was grinning like an idiot upon sight of the violin and accordion; the seven piece band support their charming song writing wonderfully. Particularly enjoyable was I Am Always There and a striking cover of Magnetic Fields’ It’s Only Time, which really highlighted Van Cuylenburg’s subtlety beautifully. Hilariously, his voice is a perfect hybrid of James Taylor and James Blunt. Must be in the name…

The Tealeaves closed their set with a quiet duet between Wilson and Van Cuylenburg, May The Road Rise, which draws on the traditional prayer of the same name. It was heart wrenching to say the least. Despite fitting so bloody neatly into the folk bracket of music, The Tealeaves shared with us the most gorgeously executed stuff.

The self advising Love Your Band is the latest release from The Little Stevies, although gauging the evening’s response it might as well have been labeled – œLove Our Band’. A casual entrance from the trio kicked things off with appropriate ease; there is something so bloody familiar about these guys! This is no doubt owing to the fact that they come armed with the unique breed of banter that transplants itself from the family living room onto a stage so well.

As a result, The Little Stevies are remarkably genuine in both writing and performance. You see from their opening wave hello to their final wave goodbye, Sibylla Stephen, Bethany Stephen and Robin Geradts have us charmed with their dexterous storytelling which at times glows with a rare kind of intimacy but for the most part perches on an endearing playfulness. Either way, this is great stuff.

Adding to their single Sunshower is a list of incredibly pretty narratives that almost operate as streams of consciousness, with minimal time wasted on sanding down a solid lyrical structure. The effect is really very refreshing. I found myself swaying with particular feeling during Grandma, which offers one of the most enjoyable love stories I’ve heard in a long time. Or maybe I’m just a sucker for the harmonica? Equally as impressive was The Two Loves of His Life (The Tram Song), elaborating on the true story of a Melbourne boy who stole a tram to joyride around town a few years back (...where was I for that one?). I should also note that Geradts was good enough to offer us a killer Bob Dylan impersonation here. A definite highlight.

Towards the end of their set The Little Stevies had well and truly harnessed a typically Aussie humour, showing their penchant for laughter. It’s pretty safe to say that the band’s comedy stylings were trumped only by the maturity of their writing. Not only are ballads Come to Miss You and Ticket To Where You Are lyrically eloquent, but they line themselves with the kind of harmonies that seem to squeeze down on your insides. This kind of balance from such an entertaining group of performers was fantastic to witness.

Considering the band currently sit in their very early twenties, I completely look forward to hearing time develop this ingenuity into a wider string of experiences they can share with us.