Pretty Crane, M.A, My Own TrueLove @ Transit Bar, Canberra(22/12/11)

Mon 26th Dec, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Severe weather warnings did nothing to deter people from coming down to Transit Bar for a few pints and tunes on Thursday night.

First to grace the stage was My Own True Love, an eclectic six piece band that lacked nothing in talent or energy. Their enthusiastic performance and full sound flooded the bar and demanded attention. The two singers delivered impressive, almost angelic, vocals but did not always harmonise well. As a whole, the group’s eclecticism was a double-edged sword as the members occasionally seemed out of step with one another. Formed only last year, My Own True Love has plenty of potential and perhaps with more stage experience that potential will be realised. In short, stay tuned for these guys.

Next up was the three piece act M.A. whose set played out much like a Nirvana tribute band with all-new-never-heard-before material. It was a simple set with low energy performances, however the singer’s raspy drawl and the quiet confidence that the band exuded managed to captivate the audience. M.A. performed with ease and conviction; the individual talents of the musicians coming together cohesively to create a lasting impression.

Headliners Pretty Crane, with a new drummer in the form of Pat Elsey, made their way into the Transit spotlight after a hiatus from performing as a group. Like M.A., this all-male trio offered a stand-and-deliver performance with muted energy. Their sound was sparse and moody. Unfortunately for Pretty Crane, they lacked the innate stage presence that their support act possessed.
They had a good command of their instruments and some solid songs, but this was all let down by a lacklustre and somewhat unsure performance. A burst of energy or some more interaction with the crowd would have benefited this set as the audience slowly became disengaged. It is a shame as these guys clearly have talent in spades and a passion for their music.
Hopefully with some more time back in the limelight Pretty Crane will build the confidence and conviction that their music deserves.

Overall, it was a pretty chilled out night at Transit Bar, with lots of unassuming local talent that we may just hear a lot more from in future.