Owl Eyes, Undercolours, TheOcean Party @ Workers Club,Melbourne (12/11/2010)

Mon 22nd Nov, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Friday night marked the start of a weekend long “first birthday party” for The Workers Club in Collingwood. Strictly speaking, there should have been more than a single flickering candle on the birthday cake. But this was a celebration of the phoenix that rose from the ashes of The Rob Roy; a celebration of the re-vamped venue that has quickly become an institution for showcasing new musical talents. A perfect venue, in fact, for nineteen year-old Owl Eyes to launch her latest EP.

The aptly named ‘Womb Stage’ hosted the musical proceedings for the night, with the exception of a lively mood lifting DJ set from Galapogoose out on the ‘Play Ground Stage’.

The Ocean Party officially set the birthday in motion with an eclectic set that showcased a sensibility towards 1960s harmonies and the type of witty lyricism favoured by The Shins. Shaking Like a Leaf was a highlight, among many, from a confident and assured band. Lachlan Denton held the attention of the audience with a peculiar charisma, showcasing his talent as an emerging leading man.

After a short break for the buzzing audience to acquire fresh alcoholic refreshment, the Undercolours took to the stage to perform a traditional rock set. It is clear they have a strong contingent of followers as the room filled up to capacity after just a few songs.

As a beaming the evening’s headliner appeared on stage, a rowdy crowd received her in noisy fashion. As far as EP Launches go, this was already a success. Owl Eyes kicked off with her brand of upbeat, Triply J friendly, Lilly Allen-esque pop. An early highlight was Paper Planes, a track off her new EP Faces, reminiscent of the earlier works of another Australian artist, Sia.

With a soulful voice and funk influences, the mood remained bubbly and fun throughout. Think Patience Hodgson with less jumping. A cover of the Phoenix’s Long Distance Call offered a slight change of pace, and an opportunity to once more show off some impressive vocals.

Owl Eyes followed up with Monorail, another catchy crooning number. The crowd sometimes failed to contain their desire to have a chat during the show, however in all, Owl Eyes proved a fun way to kick off a weekend of crazy birthday shenanigans.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT HERE