Darren Hanlon, Laura Jean @East Brunswick Club(14/05/2007)

Mon 18th Jun, 2007 in Gig Reviews

Arriving at the cosily packed East Brunswick Club on a cold and windy Melbourne night, I was greeted by the sultry caress of Laura Jean ’s unimposing vocals. What provoking instrumentals – a sound I was more than happy to welcome me in from the cold.

With an eclectic array of musicians on hand to help create the musical glow which seemed to radiate from the group, Laura Jean and band managed to envelope the crowd with tracks from her most recent album release Swan Song . Complete with lyrics that seem somewhat detached from the nature which they where delivered, Laura Jean was appealing and compelling.

Overall, I found Laura Jean’s music to be subtle and soothing in delivery. But once you start taking in the lyrics, it takes the music to another level. I look forward to exploring more of her music.

The already cosy East Brunswick started to swell with people as Darren Hanlon swaggered onto the stage and launched straight into a track from his most recent release Fingertips and Mountain Tops .

Having not seen Darren play live for a couple of years I had forgotten how his voice conveys a story so convincingly that it makes you forget about your surroundings completely and enables you to just simply focus on this tartan shirt. A scarf wearing Queenslander with an amazingly pure Australian voice who sings about love and a small town in NSW.

Accompanying Darren on stage was Rolling Stone Editor Simon Wooldridge on bass, the enigmatic Bree Van Reyk on drums and Portland based Corey Gray on piano. Creating a somewhat eclectic mix of performers that at times may have seemed dishevelled simply added to the charm.

I admit there were moments during Darren Hanlon’s set where my attention waived. But with witty banter about pinball competitions with Triple J’s Robbie Buck between sets, it didn’t take long for Darren Hanlon and band to grab my attention again.

All in all it was and enjoyable night for music and it sent me on my way into the unwelcoming hands of a cold Melbourne night – with a warm glow and reinstated enthusiasm for good old home grown music.