Live Review: The ReChords, The Drey Rollan Band, Cherrywood

Cherrywood take to the stage tonight as the crowd is starting to file in, and immediately win the audience over with their passion and piss-takery. 'Banter of the night' honours go to lead vocalist Tim Durkin, whose winning charm sets the tone for the evening. Looking every bit the part, the four lads swagger through tracks from their EP, The First Four Songs, with mandolin player Josh Seymour's husky voice a nice contrast to Durkin's fuller vocal stylings.  Ending their set with a sombre version of Midnight Special, the band exit amidst a crowd suitably warmed up.

Sydneysiders The Drey Rollan Band are up next, and with smiles on dials, plough through songs from their self-titled long player. Wielding a lovely green Gretsch, front man and guitarist Drey Rollan dazzles with his slippery smooth licks, while the diminutive Little B provides a cuter-than-cute falsetto that would make Brian Setzer's heart melt. Back-up singer Bobbie Green sways to the rhythm of her maracas, the only thing missing is a B52's beehive to complete the effect. Standout track Wildcats has couples hitting the dancefloor for a jive.

Headliners The ReChords are welcomed by a full crowd as they introduce tracks from latest EP It Won't Be Long. With pitch-perfect vocal harmonies, and charisma to spare, the trio lap up the undivided attention of the crowd. Guitarist extraordinaire Felix Potier works the fret board with finesse, while lead vocalist Leo Francis belts it out with fervour. As the set continues and the slicked-back hair starts to sag, the band's enthusiasm never wanes; at one point upright bassist Tyrone Shaw's tie malfunction provokes band mate ribbing, much to the crowd's delight.  Don't Know Much gets the crowd moving with the mellower Take The Line giving the set balance. Potier takes the spotlight for the lighter (I've Got Some) Money In My Pocket, and by the set's end there is, no doubt, a whole new swag of ReChords devotees leaving the venue.