The Box Rockets, The Solomons,Grizzly Jim Lawrie @ TheEvelyn, Melbourne (07/08/2010)

Mon 9th Aug, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Melbourne band The Box Rockets headlined The Evelyn to celebrate their return to the stage after a month-long hiatus. Singer Luke Sabbadini said during their set that “a month may not seem that long but to [them], it is”. The Box Rockets invited three other Melbourne musical staples to join them on a tight bill at The Evelyn. With the evening’s entertainment pushed back an extra half an hour, punters could expect a late but enjoyable night of live music.

The Bastards of Rhythm had just started their first song when I entered The Evelyn which, I might add, was unusually dark. Featuring members from the recently disbanded Hercules in New York, The Bastards of Rhythm showed elements of the former’s “cosmic” sound. The sound was somewhat odd to say the least, but odd in a good way. The simple three-piece band with nothing more than a bass, an electronic drum kit and a fair few samples, had a certain intriguing appeal about them. Perhaps it was bass player *Simon Lawrie*’s blatant sex appeal.

With their style of what I will christen “cosmic love funk fusion”, The Bastards of Rhythm created a great live atmosphere. Each are apt musicians in their own right and as a band, they were tight, funky and delivered on their promise of “taking us to the top level” during their song Elevator Funk. It is easy to how such a band may sound like an indulgent fusion jam on a recording, but their live show is certainly one worth seeing.

Next on the bill was Grizzly Jim Lawrie who performed fully equipped with his new band, which includes his brother Simon Lawrie (of The Bastards of Rhythm) on bass. The added band members strengthened and elevated his sound in all the right ways without over-powering Grizzly Jim’s understated melodies. The inclusion of the trumpet created a whimsical and evocative vibe reminiscent of Okkervil River’s slower repetoire. His performance of Take Things Fast was moving, with its added harmonies in the introduction. That said, there appeared to be a very few casual trips to the bar made during his set.

Lawrie has one of those rare voices that carries the poignancy to conjure feelings of both bliss and melancholy in the listener. His demeanour is bereft of pretence and although he is unsigned, he has firmly found himself a niche in this city’s vibrant music scene.

The high-energy performance of The Solomons came in third on the line up. Featuring two powerful vocalists, The Solomons woke up everyone who had been lulled by the night’s entertainment. Bassist Cass Allan’s voice should be applauded as it was refreshing to hear such a powerful female vocal in amongst what could be arguably described as generic garage rock. Certainly, the first few songs were enjoyable as the band has vigour and energy aplenty, however the second half of their set showed that they lacked much needed dynamics. For many listeners, the show proved a little too intense. Rather than encapsulating the audience, a few members relocated to the back to shout in their friend’s ear. Nevertheless, The Solomons’ recordings have proved them to be talented songwriters, and although the sound may have been wanting in dynamics, if 1960’s garage rock lit your fire then The Solomons would have delivered. Loudly.

The Box Rockets kicked the notion of the last train hard in the face and started off just before midnight. The way the night ad been chugging on, however, some say it was worth the cab fare. Starting off, ironically perhaps, the band wished everyone a Goodnight , featuring a very laid-back bass line with a hell-of-a-lot of Big Muff pedal, courtesy of bassist Stuart West.

After the moody start, the band amped up energy levels and took the crowd along with them. Singer Luke Sabbadini appeared to be a little under the weather during the set, however he managed to keep the performance bouncing and still developed a good rapport with the crowd. The band’s drummer Pam Zaharias, scored a few drunken callouts in her favour which she dealt with elegantly, proving perhaps that she is often a crowd favourite.

After taking a break for the last month, The Box Rockets showed no obvious signs of being rusty. Understated in the corner, guitarist Andrew Cambell delivered the band’s signature hooks with ease. By the end, the crowd was drunk, raucous and showing off their best “beer moves”. An enthusiastic Evelyn goer moved to the front of the crowd and begged for an encore, which The Box Rockets delivered.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT HERE