Whitley, Seagull @ The Maram,Canberra (18/08/2010)

Sun 22nd Aug, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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If it wasn’t already known that Lawrence Greenwood didn’t appreciate patrons talking during his performance, he definitely showed his audience at The Maram on Wednesday night. Maybe a tour too late as this will be his last in the country as Whitley.

Awkwardly shy Chris Bolton, better known as the lead of Melbourne based band Seagull opened the night with a beautiful yet unappreciated set. The full band is most known for its instrumental shows including most popularly their accordion. Tonight Bolton played only a five-song show with little more than an acoustic guitar. He played to a barely half full room as most of the audience waited in the bar out of earshot of his humbly sweet voice. The underrated musician hypnotised just a few of the musically inspired patrons but was mostly spoken over and barely noticed.

The room slowly filled during the interval but it wasn’t until the end of Greenwood’s opening song, Cheap Clothes, that the room became crowded and the first roar of excitement was heard, real appreciation for a respected artist on his final stand. Greenwood was quick to assure the crowd that the cold, wet and miserable location of Canberra was not the highlight of his career. But this tour; his last tour, was for us, his fans. This was soon followed up with, Bright White Lights, from Whitley’s most recent album, Go Forth, Find Mammoth, which was interrupted by talking audience members. Profanities were thrown from stage to crowd, as the musician grew frustrated.

The night continued with songs from Whitley’s two-album career. Songs of love, heartbreak, life and death including, More to Life, I, All Is Whole and I Remember. Crowd favourites Poison in Our Pockets and Killer, both from his latest release were shown great appreciation. Not unlike that of Bolton’s earlier performance Greenwood played a very stripped set with only his acoustic guitar on hand. The blanks were filled with anecdotes of bad shows and bikie members, with ponderings of the porn industry and what may be next for the musician. Perhaps something “bat-shit crazy.”

Greenwood compared talking audience members with people who would shoot an art museum attendee in the eye with a laser pointer as they were trying to appreciate a painting. One patron taking Greenwood’s humour far too personally smashed his glass before making a rather dramatic exit from the building. The show brought a mix of laughs and gasps from the often-overwhelmed crowd.

The night was brought to its end with single, Lost In Time. The crowd possibly scared out of asking for an encore by the moody singer/songwriter. People quickly dispersed out to the bar for many rounds of drinks and lengthy discussions regarding the talent, humour and future of Greenwood. Mixed reactions came from everyone but he kept himself as a hot topic in the mind of everyone who attended.

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