Live Review: Lilith Lane & Her Many Wives, Wind Cheaters, Junk Horses

Let's be honest, Old Bar isn't exactly bursting at the seams on this dull Wednesday evening, but local band Junk Horses bash out an absolutely knock-out set, shocking the few punters that are casually standing about sipping beers. While the lead guitarist and bass player apply intense heads-down concentration to their finger work, lead singer Kate Alexander belts out big rock vocals with a powerful equestrian's legs-apart stance. Wow.

Next support act Wind Cheaters are slightly underwhelming in the wake of such force. Floaty indie-rock numbers are sweetly sung by alternating female vocalist/guitarists – one with the type of round pregnant belly that looks delightfully out of place on a rock'n'roll stage. At least two wasted mid-week drunks enjoy the set enough to stagger about doing some highly amusing but awkward undulating sexy dancing.  
 
Lilith Lane & Her Many Wives kick off the last week of their Old Bar residency with the slow-burning My Cowboy (Man's Man). Full of confident charm, Lane introduces new tracks from her third album Pilgrim including the smoking, bluesy Sun Set Fire with distorted guitar riffs galore. Dramatic double-bass playing is the driving force behind Lane's vocal on the intense Baby Elephant Print (Gina), which, she explains, was written as a tribute to mining magnate Ms Rinehart. Lane and her wives (all men, by the way) perform languid, bluesy tracks infused with theatrics, smoldering guitar work and thumping double bass for the remainder of tonight's set. The atmosphere is heady enough to drive tipsy girls into the arms of their men, swaying and tripping in the bluesiness. Next stop for this ensemble is France, where Lane's arresting performance is sure to be a perfect fit in a smoky little Montmartre bar.