The announcement that one of your favourite local bands is playing a couple of "last shows" means you grab tickets immediately, right? And then the promise of different special guests each night makes you decide to go to both, yes? Well, it did for Nicole and I! Last week we saw back-to-back Oh Mercy shows, before half of them head off to explore music in the other hemisphere for awhile.
First on the bill was Slow Dancer, Simon from Oh Mercy's solo outfit. A great sound, with an enchanting voice and awesome guitar work. Lead me to buy his EP on the second night, and am loving the tracks.
Next up was Alexander Gow, doing a solo set of a list of songs the band don't really do live anymore. A chill and intimate set, Alex was chatty and charming. He treated us with my favourite Oh Mercy song, the rarely played Salvation Jane, after opening with Hold Out Your Hand, before the first of the guests for the evenings joined him on stage.
Helen Croome, otherwise known as Gossling, sang their new French La Minute de Silence with him, which is a pretty impressive feat!
Mercy Valley was in there, before Alex did a song by The Panics, and then Jae Laffer took the stage to give us his version of Labour Of Love on the second night.
After a wardrobe change for Alex, he returned to the stage with Rohan on drums to open the Oh Mercy set with Europa, before Eliza and Simon joined them for the great Lay Everything On Me.
Loads of Deep Heat tracks featured, with Still Making Me Pay, and My Man being haunting stand outs. Then Kieran Ryan took the stage, mid-set, to give us his version of Doldrums, before the band returned for Stay Please Stay and Drums. Both nights finished with Alex talking about these shows being a celebration rather than a sad farewell, although the final song told of travel, longing escape and journeying, in The Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues.
Next up was Alexander Gow, doing a solo set of a list of songs the band don't really do live anymore. A chill and intimate set, Alex was chatty and charming. He treated us with my favourite Oh Mercy song, the rarely played Salvation Jane, after opening with Hold Out Your Hand, before the first of the guests for the evenings joined him on stage.
Mercy Valley was in there, before Alex did a song by The Panics, and then Jae Laffer took the stage to give us his version of Labour Of Love on the second night.
After a wardrobe change for Alex, he returned to the stage with Rohan on drums to open the Oh Mercy set with Europa, before Eliza and Simon joined them for the great Lay Everything On Me.
Loads of Deep Heat tracks featured, with Still Making Me Pay, and My Man being haunting stand outs. Then Kieran Ryan took the stage, mid-set, to give us his version of Doldrums, before the band returned for Stay Please Stay and Drums. Both nights finished with Alex talking about these shows being a celebration rather than a sad farewell, although the final song told of travel, longing escape and journeying, in The Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues.
Who knows when we will see these songs, and this band together, live again. It was indeed a celebration of their work since their humble beginnings...and who knows where the next chapter will lead them. Have fun, lads! It's bound to be amazing!
I was at the second show, was a cracking gig. Great vibe in the room and really excellent show from a classic local act. Can't wait to see what the future brings for them :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Exciting times ahead, surely!
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