Sofar Sounds Sydney: 25th Jan 2015
Words: Alister Marshall
Photography: Megan Carew Photography & Design
More pics here!!!
Thiswas my second time reviewing for a Sofar Sound’s show and I was very excited to see what this edition had to bring.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Sofar Sounds, they are secret gigs that are held in intimate spaces in over 100 cities around the world. This evening’s venue was a beautiful open courtyard in Newtown, and I brought along a group of friends to open them up to this secret world, which I was grateful to have been shown by a friend a few months ago.
The first act of the evening was Stephanie Grace, blending beautiful harmonies with a very smooth and calming voice; she immediately caught the entire audience’s attention. Her set showcased her full array of musical talent, a bunch of cracking jokes and her ability to maintain the audiences attention throughout, with her smart songwriting and additions of various accessories, it was the perfect way to kick start the evening.
The second act of the evening was a duo going by the name of Microwave Jenny; as soon as they hit the stage I could tell they were an unusual duo. Introducing one another as husband and wife, with a baby on the way. Their original music and the way they went about the set certainly reflected this feel, leaving even the coldest person with a warm smile on their face. They got the crowd involved too with a very catchy whistle sing-a-long that is still stuck in my head.
The third act of the night was a fellow called Josh Chamberlin. He arrived on stage with a beautifully crafted telecaster that made me drool in its presence. Josh with long locks of hair and a beard that is worthy of its own stage name itself, was dressed like a man ready to prove a point, and that he did. Armed with a very husky voice and not afraid to use it, he played a very entertaining set, showcasing his full abilities as a guitarist and songwriting skills.
The fourth and final act of the evening were Vigilantes, dressed in bright and very unusual selections of Adidas clothing, were never going to be an act you would be able to easily forget about. While it was their unusual appearance that originally caught my attention, it was their music that stayed with me afterwards. Armed with enough gear to make any musician jealous, they used their entire armory to catch every member of the audience’s imagination. Blending beautiful harmonies with new aged synthesizers, beats and effects, their music was a first for me at a Sofar Sounds gig, but boy did everyone in the crowd appreciate what they brought to the table. My personal favorite was the introduction of the saxophone, which just made their compositions sound even better to the ear.
It was a fitting end to what was a very enjoyable evening for all, and as I left with my friends, they were full of praise for Sofar Sounds.