Oh Mercy @ Amplifier, Perth(30/04/11)

Tue 3rd May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

If you are a fan of old school alternative country rock and folk, the sounds of an angel being strangled and admirable pop-rock then Amplifier would’ve been your chosen destination last Saturday night. Melbourne indie-pop band Oh Mercy were the main attraction for many of the alternative, trendy and beautifully happy beer drinking folk who came out in force. On the national tour train for their critically acclaimed and much hyped second album, Great Barrier Grief, it was no surprise that fans were cushioning themselves against each others’ limbs to find the perfect position to witness the anticipated set from the four-piece.

It wasn’t quite sardine-city on the grungy dance floor when alternative country/folk rockers Ruby Boots took the stage. Wearing a fiery red blazer, vocalist Bex Chilcott held the short attention spans of the early punters placed stagnantly in a rough semi circle as far away from the stage as possible. There wasn’t anything particularly outlandish taking place on stage to draw people physically closer, but then again, nothing made them turn away to the bar or venture out to the beer garden either. Punchy, rocky, raw and brimming with banjo love, Ruby Boots mesh contemporary alt-country with a touch of old school. Eliza Rogers’ charming violin fiesta added a dynamic variation to the band’s original set, perhaps one of the highlights of the evening.

The sudden flocking of all those eager to witness, or more accurately put, ‘endure’ the ‘luscious lullaby’ sounding Victorian singer-songwriter Gossling was, quite frankly, unbelievable. This was cemented when Gossling opened her mouth (there was no way she has/had that many fans). Gossling is yet another addition to the growing roster of angelic folk ladies such as Julia Stone and Sarah Blasko. Perhaps what makes her stand out from these other songstresses is the fact that her speaking voice sounds like she’s been inhaling helium. Looking around the packed out joint, it seemed every second punter in the room was either comparing her to the ladies mentioned above or squeezing out some very unsubtle facial expressions that asked “is she for real?”.

Perhaps a more intimate venue would’ve suited this piano playing annoyance but it was more than evident that her short stories about friends and their lovers, tale of having a cold when she supported Whitley last year and asking the audience whether anyone had seen the movie Once failed to hold the attention of all those present. Eyes were on the bar, beer garden and phone screens. Triple J smash hit Days Are Over was perhaps the only vaguely interesting tune that kept the front line onside and I Was Young enticed true fans, offering a refreshingly upbeat change to the mostly mellow set.

By the time Oh Mercy hit the stage, punters were ready for some serious action. The booze was kicking in and after waiting extremely patiently for Gossling to leave the stage; it was time to get cracking. Frontman Alexander Gow, the indie-pop equivalent of Michael Buble, immediately had all the ladies in the room crooning on the inside. Relaxed, casual and evidently talented, the four-piece hit it off with Confessions from Great Barrier Grief followed by On the Run. Predominantly a set of beautiful indie-pop-rock, the entertainment was all in the on-stage banter with Gow and guitarist Simon Okely talking of Okely’s previous life back in Perth living in Carine (which received drunken cheers for no apparent reason) and drawing attention to the fact that Perth has to pay to go to public toilets. The acoustic, dreamy delivery of Can’t Fight It was a highlight for many, but it was vulnerable sounding Let Me Go and the slightly country rock tune that introduced the harmonica Get You Back that drew in all beer-sloshing rockers. All that is, except the few staring at bass player Eliza Lam – fascinated by her minimalist delivery/humble, aka sexy, appearance.

Crowd pleaser and Triple J favourite Stay Please Stay was the obvious favourite to end the mostly pleasant evening. Heads bopping, bodies swaying and toes tapping, the suave number had all charming voices singing along. Tasteful, captivating and endearing, Oh Mercy were entertaining enough for a regular Saturday night out but, measured alongside some of Australia’s elite artists, Oh Mercy’s potential is yet to fully be realised.