Jaime Robbie Reyne, ElishaBones @ The Front, Canberra(2/6/11)

Wed 8th Jun, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Billed as Elisha Bones and the Bawdy Burlesque Briefs, Mr Bones, bassist Dave Crosby and drummer Gaff Gaffers Gaffney introduced themselves as the decidedly unsexy “Elisha Bones and the yet-to-be-nameds.” Luckily, the first strains of the group’s haunting tunes took my date’s mind off stockings and nipple tassels and drew my eyes from the vintage treasures of April’s Caravan – no small feat.

The ACT locals played a strong set for the large and attentive crowd, with a sound both pared back and wonderfully rich. Frontman Elisha Bones’ voice moved seamlessly between tracks, gentle and strong and oddly reminiscent of Sparkadia’s Alex Burnett. It was one of those gigs that made for a perfect fit at The Front. As Bones et al played and left us curled up and blissed out, second glass of pinot in hand.

Headline act for the night Jaime Robbie Reyne is both a Cleo Bachelor of the Year 2011 nominee and a Neighbours alumnus (it’s up to you which one you’re more impressed with). Reyne certainly hasn’t followed the Valance-Goodrem school of post-Neighbours pop, nor affected a sensitive-hipster-with-guitar pose; what we were privileged to hear on Thursday night was roots, blues and rock at its finest.

Having toured with the likes of Pat Benatar and The Bangles in the past, Lyneham may have been a slight change of scene for Reyne, but he brought a great deal of energy and charisma to The Front, as he swung past on the last leg of his whirlwind Remember to Breathe tour. He filled the space with the energetic roots sounds of his debut solo release of the same name.

Soldiering bravely on after being confronted by two broken guitar strings, Reyne and his bandmates Mike O’Dowd and Leigh Baines produced the kind of raw, soulful blues and rock music that you don’t hear enough of anymore.
 Echoes of the influences he cites, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen could be found throughout his set, but Reyne has developed a sound that is uniquely his, and the audience couldn’t get enough of it, snapping up the free singles he was handing out. They chanted “Encore!” and demanded more until Reyne and the boys gave in, performing Baby Going Down to rapturous applause before heading off into the cold Canberra night.