:: Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set - Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave - July 2006

By: Sabine Brix

With her stature growing year by year, Clare Bowditch and her band the Feeding Set is one of the most entertaining acts to see on the live circuit. The excellent band venue Ruby's Lounge, in the outer Melbourne suburb of Belgrave, hosted another terrific performance by Clare and co.

Aptly renaming the band the ‘breeding set’ instead of ‘feeding’ set, due to her own and fellow musician Libby’s forthcoming pregnancies, Clare kicked things off with a laugh, then it was down to business.

The ever-so-catchy ‘Human Being’ was received with warmth from the crowded venue who met each song with effervescent cheers. Clare's banter in between songs was as charismatic as her singing and she elicited laughs will tales of romantic endeavours gone awry and strange pregnancy cravings. A new song which the band spontaneously decided to trial was impressive, as was the tightness and expression within each song, as though they were being delivered for the first time.

The final song was a blues cover which Clare described as being obscure, and which ironically, all of her band members knew. Unfortunately, the show was the last in a string for the band who are taking the rest of the year off, to focus on other endeavours - babies of which are included.