Photo: Justin Ma

The Troubadour has a cosy warmth that emanates around the room. The crowd spilling in is jovial and friendly, which is reciprocated by the music on offer this evening. Opening act Jake Rush & The Bad Habits, dressed in matching cowboy shirts and unruly hairstyles, launch into an unbelievable set of catchy tunes and three part harmonies. And these guys don’t look a day over twenty! Switching instruments left, right and centre, booming basslines and drummer/vocalist Jake Rush holding court centre stage – what an impression to leave on the audience, who bay for an encore. They respond with funny ditty Slutty Girl, which has the crowd in stitches.

It’s a difficult act to follow, but all-girl-trio Hot Liquid Sex try their best. Focusing more on a garage pop sound, the group inevitably brings the energy created by Jake and his mates down a little, but it is no fault of theirs. They bring it back up with raging closer Real Love, chock-a-block with sing-alongs and dancing bodies. I’m quite impressed.

Somehow I sneak my way through the mass of people to the front row, jut in time to see The Basics swagger on stage and set it alight with their musical mastery. Professional and humorous, immersed in the music whilst maintaining a high sense of entertainment, the Melbourne trio deliver a swathe of crackers such as Just Hold On, Looking Over My Shoulder and encore Rattle My Chain. Vocalist/bassist Kris Schroeder is funny to the point of hysterics. Guitarist/vocalist Tim Heath dances like he has ants in his pants, and in Wally De Backer, drummer and singer extraordinaire, well, I just think I might have found my new god. The Basics round off a wonderful night of showmanship that I won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

LINDSEY CUTHBERTSON

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