:: Little Birdy / End of Fashion / Red Sun Band at the Corner Hotel, Richmond - February 04

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

There’s a good feeling when you go to a gig in suburban Melbourne and check out three relatively new bands and you come away thinking that you had a really good night out. It was apparent early in the evening that a great atmosphere would exist. The young crowd arrived early and it gave the impetus to the support bands to really let loose. The Red Sun Band gave us a fair idea on why they’ve received solid attention over the past few months. On the back of their EP ‘Pavement’, they drew in the audience through lead singer Sarah’s very good mostly soft, near-whispering, vocal qualities and a non-conventional, slower approach. They seem to like a bit of roughness to their musical expression and it can go down very well, although it might be something they’ll have to adapt in future recordings. But tonight, they were well worth a look.

I had missed a couple of Perth band End of Fashion’s shows in previous visits to Melbourne and I was keen to see what they could deliver. After their lively set, I feel that good things can come their way. The band work together well, with lead singer and guitarist Justin Burford giving the required strength to their rock tunes. They have much going for them: good hooks, fine upper register by Justin, and solid driving musicianship. As the set proceeded, the interest amongst thew crowd was noticeable. The clever lyrics and good-natured attitude won over. It was a good example of the relationship between the band and the crowd and how they drove each other further.

Most of the crowd was keen enough to come early and not miss the opportunity of seeing Little Birdy in action. Their rise in the past twelve months has been well observed and thoroughly deserved. Tonight was a good night to sample the developing bands from Western Australia. Much enthusiasm greeted their entrance and the band clearly enjoyed the limelight of tonight. Lead singer Katy Steele is fast developing her style as a charismatic performer, loving the banter with the crowd and displaying a unique female style that goes back to the Chrissie Amphlett (The Divinyls) days. They have the pop-rock picture in clear focus: a generally simple, effective stage manner and clever, catchy songs. The audience was right there, singing along to songs from their EP. The song “Relapse” got a big response, but most of the set captivated the audience. Songs such as ‘Beautiful’ and ‘Baby Blue’ exemplified Katy’s sweet voice. It was terrific to see the way she performs; ever spirited and captivating. Little Birdy will continue to capture the hearts of many as they continue to develop. Overall, tonight’s gig was a fine showcase of some promising young talent.