Live Review: Megan Washington, Teeth & Tongue, The Tambourine Girls

The Tambourine Girls is a misleading name. Not only is there only one band member, but he’s not a girl at all. Instead, it is Simon Relf, better known as the guitarist from Deep Sea Arcade. Despite the confusion, the sound is stripped back, unique and complex as many side projects seem to be.

In keeping with the unique band name theme, Teeth & Tongue, consisting of Jess Cornelius, took to the stage. Playing songs from her latest release Grids, Cornelius manages to intrigue the audience with her mix of drum machine, keys and delicately precise vocals that have a definite Kate Bush-like quality. Look out for her at BIGSOUND in Brisbane next month.

With her slicked black-hair matching her sharp black jacket and dress, Megan Washington took to the stage before a packed-out crowd and dove straight into Sunday Best. The journey had begun and Washington was in fine form. Her ability to engage the crowd with her delicious vocal, entrancing dancing and casual wit are only surpassed by her innate ability to write exceptional music.

With Washington’s new album There There just three weeks away, we were given a chance to preview several new tracks including Skyline and Marry Me, plus recently released tracks Limitless and My Heart Is A Wheel. The quality of the new tracks seem to ensure continued success for Washington, who gleefully invited the crowd to her apartment ‘around the corner’ after the show.

Washington wove smoothly between old and new material, also taking time out to perform a cover of Future Island’s Seasons. The eager crowd followed her the whole way, including impressively taking over the vocals for Underground. There were many highlights in a show that delighted the senses.