Kitty, Daisy & Lewis @ TheMetro, Sydney (24/1/12)

Thu 26th Jan, 2012 in Gig Reviews

The Durham Family, from Kentish Town. have a whole lot more soul and rock and roll in them then The Partridge Family from San Pueblo ever did. Besides that, they also have a Dad (Graeme) on guitar and a Mum (Ingrid) on bass when they are on the road. This traveling family band hit the stage of The Metro on a rainy Tuesday to an almost full house of adoring fans with a grooving instrumental piece.

A night steeped in old time rock and roll, jump blues and R & B, ensured the fans were decked out in their best vintage gear from head to toe and if there had been more of a dance floor it would have been swing fever as people were hopping but could not release their inner jive bunny to the fullest extent.

With instruments being swapped from one player to the next, the beat was going to be up-tempo most of the night. Daisy is a dynamo on stage bouncing around when playing anything, but watching her play drums was enough to make anyone think she just had her batteries charged. I’m Going Back in particular was a showcase for her spectacular voice. Kitty plays a remarkable harp and that was highlighted through the evening on some of the jamming that took place throughout songs. Let’s not forget about the picking of their middle brother Lewis who took can rock out with the best of them and showed that his guitar work is a key component to their sound. Graeme did keep the rhythm going and Ingrid was barefoot and rocking on the upright bass and the smiles coming from them all lit up the stage.

People were shaking and grooving and the place exploded when they slipped into their take on Canned Heat’s Going Up The Country from their first record. I was hijacked by a female dancer who decided it was time for me to swing her around the upper reaches of The Metro and smiles were found on the many others around us doing the same sweaty dance. K, D & L were also joined by Tan Tan Thornton, the 79 year old Jamaican trumpeter, who added some spice to a number of songs and helped that ska feeling come through on I’m So Sorry. Even the slightly muddy front of house sound at The Metro could not dampen the enthusiasm on display tonight!

Messing With My Life was a highlight as was the vision of two banjos and an accordion on stage during the encore of Hillbilly Music which truly displayed the versatility of these young siblings. This music may have a slight whiff of nostalgia as it is not using modern technology and the songs are linked to another period in history, but that takes nothing away from the joy of a night in the presence of these very talented people. Truly, they are doing this because they love what they do and what more can you ask from an artist?