Andy Bull @ The Troubadour,Brisbane (3/11/2010)

Mon 15th Nov, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Every year, I purchase one particular copy of Cleo Magazine: The Cleo Bachelor Issue. Why? Well, I’m single and female, and it’s good to know what’s out there. Or more realistically, to swoon over 50 of Australia’s (almost always) good looking and talented bachelors. It’s an annual guilty pleasure of mine, and I’m totally at ease with it.

It was in the 2009 issue that I came across the very handsome Andy Bull. His profile read, “singer, pianist and songwriter” and that “he was feeling proud to represent the unlikely category of ‘piano player’ on a Top 50 Bachelors List.” This prompted me to go looking for his music and now I’m quite the fan.

Mr. Bull is currently on tour in support of his most recent release, The Phantom Pains EP. He kindly stopped into Brisbane’s Troubadour on Wednesday evening for a stripped back solo set with a few special guests.

Local op-shop-pop songstress Tara Simmons began the evening. Having only seen Tara the once previous, I do prefer her when she plays with her band. Her voice fills the room and significantly out-weighs the piano. Her set was quite casual and thus a little disengaging, but not all bad. I enjoyed her last song which was her most recent single I Cannot Be Saved with handclaps provided by the eager audience up the front.

This was my third Andy Bull experience in total, however the first sans band. His set was a very enjoyable mix of new and not-so-new. All six tracks off The Phantom Pains EP made it into his set with title track Phantom Pains being a mid-set highlight. My two personal favourite tracks off his first album We’re Too Young, Grown Folk and Do You Recall? also made enjoyable mid-set appearances.

In true singer-songwriter fashion, the songs came with stories. A borderline tasteful tale of his old school friend now known as “D Cup” (an ARIA Award Winner); the humorous story of chap whom he met whilst in Ballarat which resulted in the comical Small Town Asshole; an anecdote of adolescence and female intimidation followed by Pretty Girls and the not-so-glamorous-but-pay-the-rent jobs that inspired Work Is A Slow Way To Die.

Towards the end of his set, Tara Simmons joined him on stage for her best Lisa Mitchell impersonation for leading single Dog and shortly after Kane and Dean from Brisbane’s own Hungry Kids of Hungary provided guitar and harmonies for EP track Last Waltz.

One of my favourite things about the show was that he didn’t require a band to hold anyone’s attention. He could do it all on his own with just a piano. Now that deserves kudos!

Andy Bull: an exceptionally talented musician and a gentleman. He gives the category of ‘Piano Players’ a very good name.