Live Review: Jeremy Neale, The Laughing Leaves, Dirt Farmer

So it turns out skivvies aren't dead… Hoorah! But neither are many things including refined showmanship, sensational crowd banter and unified band costumes, all unveiled by Brisbane boy Jeremy Neale and band (Liam Campbell, Brad Evans, Jacob Knauth, Zachary Miller, Sam O'Brien) who fill the Workers Club with a catchy and heartwarming hour of music, celebrating the release of his latest single, In Stranger Times, and forthcoming EP.

Support comes from The Laughing Leaves and Dirt Farmer; the latter, a Melbourne five-piece who are also gaining an impressive status for themselves, having recently played at Boogie Festival in Tallarook and launched their single, Delilah Lightning, to a swelling Ding Dong Lounge. But it is headliner, Neale – the man of many bands including 12-piece garage rock ensemble Velociraptor – who steals our attention with songs from his larger musical catalogue including Darlin', Winter Was The Time and A Love Affair to Keep You There.

Making himself all the more endearing, Neale admits comically his musical ineptitude when he seeks the assistance of band members in tuning a guitar he borrowed from support act Dirt Farmer – the result of a broken string, which would have been “way too embarrassing” to change on stage in front of an audience, he assures punters. While tuning is undertaken by guitarist Campbell (one of the most commendable and polished musicians on stage), Neale transitions smoothly to a fleeting stand-up comedy stint, maintaining the crowd's attention in this brief, unexpected intermission. 

Closing with new single In Stranger Times, a poppy, clap-laden, three-and-a-half minute banger that features vocals by Brisbane band Go Violets, cements the gig as light hearted and playful from start to finish – an utterly pleasurable endeavour shared with a man and band who make music of the same delectable flavour.