The Step Inn - Thu Oct 23

Local guitarist Nick Smethurst – dubiously better known by his stage moniker Let’s Not (but say we did) – studiously engages us with his intricate fingerpicking and layers of delayed tapping. His clean tone and somewhat frail voice wouldn’t typically hold a crowd, but aside from the sound of billiard balls being pocketed out in the hall, the soundtrack of our early Thursday night belongs to his curious compositions. After playing to a handful of onlookers, he eventually fades himself out and thanks the couple of us that aren’t friends or band members. What he lacks in confidence is made up with talent and good intentions.

Melbourne’s Crayon Fields are frustrating. Feet are occasionally induced into tapping – most notably during more upbeat numbers such as Mirror Ball and Disappear – but the majority of their set is comprised of seriously forgettable pop that’s largely devoid of hooks. I’d like to mention the adjective promising, but considering the low strike rate exhibited by the four-piece tonight, I’d be a filthy liar. Their floundering musical prospects aren’t assisted by their thoroughly awkward stage manner. Since there’s precious little on display to make me want to hear Crayon Fields again – I’d rather not.

Having recently supported household names Pyke and Throsby, Newcastle’s Firekites drop their luggage at our collective doorstep for the third time in six weeks. This is their first Brisbane headlining show, and while they’ve certainly played to larger crowds, the five-piece are thrilled at the prospect of entertaining their own fans for a change. The folk-jazz-acoustic motif expounded on debut The Bowery is polished to a fine sheen; it’s a pleasure to witness these exceptional songs recreated live once again. Instead of concluding with an awful skyward pun, I’ll posit that the few dozen here tonight are privy to a secret we’d really like to share with you: Firekites deserve your close attention.

ANDREW MCMILLEN

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