Owl Eyes, Fun Machine @Transit Bar, Canberra (2/6/11)

Sat 4th Jun, 2011 in Gig Reviews

There are moments when I get stupidly and embarrassingly proud of little ol’ Canberra. Thursday night was one such occasion. Sure, it was a school night and predictably it was incredibly chilly, but Canberra’s music lovers still turned up in droves to see enchanting songstress Owl Eyes do her thing.

As always, there was killer support on hand to kick things off and this time it was a bunch of locals so loved that they’re well on their way to becoming state treasures. I hate to be cliché, so I’m going to avoid some fun-related puns to describe Fun Machine and just say that they are appropriately named. Challenging the stereotype of bands being dark, mysterious and broody, Canberra’s purveyors of mad-cap cool were tight, bright and loud. Sequins were the order of the day, as was boundless enthusiasm and energy, as the eclectic trio played to a bar that was rapidly filling up, complete with a devoted quartet of dancers in front of the stage, who may have received more photographic attention than the band itself.

It’s with no amount of born-and-bred-local bias that I say Fun Machine were great. All it comes down to is that they’re a band who deeply love what they do and have no trouble showing it on stage. After all, bliss is pretty damn infectious.

The nanna in me was giving tuts of disapproval by the time Owl Eyes took to the stage at 10.45pm but all was forgotten in favour of what was an ethereal, soaring and slightly sassy set. Clad in a shorter-than-short lace number and backed by her equally as good-looking band, Owl Eyes was the epitome of sweet as pie. She opened with single 1 + 1, and this was apparently all it took for what seemed like every gent in the bar to start swooning. For someone like myself, who frequently falls in love with each and every floppy haired, well-dressed man to take the stage, this was something of a sight to behold, complete with lovelorn gazes and outstretched arms.

All the attention was not without merit however, as Owl Eyes showcased a voice that is far more powerful than the saying ‘just a pretty face’ would suggest. While playing she gushed to the crowd, telling us how lovely we were and how much she enjoyed Canberra. At first such soft-spoken, fresh-faced accolades were disconcerting but after a while I realised that they were a refreshing change from the cocky, brash and loud musicians you often see.

Owl Eyes played a mixture of haunting and upbeat pop numbers, before delighting audiences with a cover of Phoenix’s Long Distance Call. She finished the set with Triple J favourite Raiders, and once again professed her love for everyone, before stepping off stage and leaving behind heartbroken men and more than a few slightly envious ladies.

I suppose now is the point where I make a really awful pun about owls and their eyes. However, I’ve never really been too fond of birdlife and in any case, I’d much rather see a bunch of amazingly talented musicians any day.