The Black Seeds @ Metro(09/06/07)

Tue 12th Jun, 2007 in Gig Reviews

After a dash through the rain I welcomed the cosy depths of the Metro and made it just in time to catch some of The Versionaries who were playing to a mostly empty room. Completely unphased by the lack of an audience, The Versionaries consisting of a mix of talented artists on the microphone, belted out their messages over the beat of the DJ as though they were preaching to a stadium full of people. The couple of stragglers that made their way to the dancefloor were even wowed by some breakdancing, although none attempted to join in. Successfully setting the vibe for the night, The Versionaries kicked off the night and managed to keep the crowd subdued with funky beats between bands.

Next up were King Tide who immediately got the crowd swaying and bouncing to reggae beats. Singer, Tony Hughes blew me away with his vocal range and the large ensemble on stage successfully transformed their feel-good vibe into grooves reminiscent of sunshine, sand and sea. After only one song the band managed to coax the cold and dreary crowd away from the bar, filling the room with moving bodies. The crowd soon generated a warmth in the cold room forcing the audience to shed their bulky winter garments while moving to the distinct reggae beat. King Tide use an assortment of instruments producing a distinct sound perfectly accentuated by vocals. The collection of instruments and colourful characters on stage had everyone thoroughly entertained, not a single boring moment in the entire show. King Tide played a very healthy full set giving everyone in the room their moneys worth and leaving me anticipating the main act of the night.

By the time The Black Seeds graced the stage, the Metro was filled wall to wall with an excited crowd. The Black Seeds did not disappoint immediately turning the room into a mass of swaying bodies. Tonight we were graced with eight talented musicians from New Zealand who could effortlessly shake up a cocktail of soul, reggae, funk and dud that the crowd eagerly drank up. Not a person in the now suitably smoky room could escape the feel-good vibe which seeps deep into your bones and forces your limbs to start moving. The band played a healthy mix of songs from their new album Into the Dojo and older hits from previous albums which the crowd eagerly soaked up. I could instantly see why their new album was so successful in their home country and the local crowd went wild when asked if there were any Kiwis in the room, showing the support they receive from their own. The Black Seeds showed their versatility on stage keeping the show entertaining and very dynamic. Most importantly they successfully transported everyone in the room to a warm and happy place which was much needed in a gloomy Sydney on Saturday night.