SixFtHick, Gentle Ben & HisSensitive Side @ Rics 10/06/05

Mon 13th Jun, 2005 in Gig Reviews

‘Twas cool enough in Vegas town to warrant an extra layer this evening, but that wasn’t going to last for long, I hoped. Arriving at Rics, we ducked in for an aperitif to discover that Gentle Ben and his Sensitive Side would be warming the up-raised corner section of Rics, prior to Sixfthick possibly burning it.

This made my companion and I extremely happy campers. I had heard great reports regarding the new Gentle Ben material, but as yet, had not indulged in any of its aural delight. Sixfthick would also be running a few new starters, although I have had a previous taste or two of those little pretties.

Gentle Ben hopes to be finished recording by late September at which point he will drag the brothers ‘hick straight back in the studio and ‘get the house in order’ for the arrival of the new Sixfthick baby.

Funny night tonight. Being a long weekend, I expected more of a crowd out and about, but it was only a little over half full by the time Gentle Ben and his Sensitive Side took position. 

Only playing a few tracks from The Beginning Of the End album, the rest of the set comprised of new material, and I have to say that liked it. I liked it a lot. From the opening track, there was a slightly heavier Sensitive Side at play.

Their sound had a grittier rock edge to it while still maintaining the true country emotion that the band never fail to deliver. There was plenty of foot tapping and hip shaking going on that’s for sure and it wasn’t just me, the whole floor was moving.

Ben still knows how to cut the rug and I was tempted to join him for a dance at one stage; you know the one, he’d be the matador and I would be the bull, but thought the better of it because well, I can’t dance. Not to Ben’s standard, anyway.

Hearing this new material for the first time now has me eagerly anticipating their second release and I will be seeing them at every opportunity between now and its launch.

A very nice set indeed.

A quick change for Ben, a few more people into Rics and a slight change in vantage point for ourselves made it time for the ‘hick.

Now I, and others, have said before that these lads from Sixfthick are fine upstanding young gentleman. Tonight they proved this to be true, by showing their support for one of the local purveyors of The Big Issue, who was making their way back home. A few dollars were raised for a good cause. Hats off to you gentlemen.

On with the show. I was keenly anticipating this as I have been somewhat underwhelmed of late by what I have seen on the live music front. Granted, that hasn’t been all that much, unfortunately, but I was hoping that tonight, the duck would be broken. My prayers were answered.

Floor space was now at a premium and once they fired up, it was even more so. I guess it was a night for the old chestnuts, and didn’t they get a roastin’? There were newies having a run, but it was the old faithfuls that brought it home for me.

By the time Sweatin’ Out The Sin was over I had my top shirt off and was drenched in ‘sin’. And so it continued. Tearing on through classics such as I Was Just Cleaning It, I Got The Swamp and Daddy’s Home I new that this was what I had been sadly missing of late and when Oysters was sleazily delivered, I certainly had the rocket fuel in my pants, in a dance way, anyway.

Dan and Tony continue to gel, coming up with a large sound, even in the smaller confines re: amplification, of Rics. The in between banter is as good as ever and they have clearly gotten over their bugs that plagued them a few weeks ago. The way the bottom shelf gin was being bandied about, I don’t think any disease will be back for a while. And Fred’s shirt was a clear winner also on the night!

Onward, ever onward! Dance space was now getting low and is it any wonder. What else are you going to do with tracks like, amongst others, I Work Better In The Dark, If,n, 24 Milk Crates and even Molasses, I think, are delivered to you in a sin and gin soaked frenzy by the two best front brothers in the business? It was mighty fine to hear Crates again for the first time in ages too.

Alas, the fun cannot last forever and the only thing that I could of asked for was an airing of Cousins and 2 Dollar G-String.

All up, an excellent night of ‘hick-styled entertainment and to top it off, the new merchandise has arrived so now we can all sport the fashionable new tee and a tractor badge! Yee har!!

I think I may have to venture to Sydney for the Annandale’s fifth birthday entertainment on the 29th of June to get another dose of the Sixfthick evangelistic medicine. I know it’s good for what ails me and its been way too long between innoculations, but they don’t tell you that it can be addictive!

I wonder if they need another driver for the Tarago in a couple of weeks?

Just going back to how polite these guys all are, as we spoke briefly afterwards, they even had the hide to thank us for coming out to watch them tonight.
Are they fucking kidding and taking the piss or what?