Live Review: Stonefield, Magic Bones, Destrends

Fresh out of Melbourne, pub-rock band Destrends gave us some of their best three-piece action, playing some of their own material, like My Friend, as well as smashing out a mean cover of Yes’s Owner Of A Lonely Heart.

Magic Bones really livened the audience up with their punk rock brilliance. The crowd was awestruck by their complementary combination of male and female lead vocals but it was a shame they weren’t louder so that the should-be-in-your-face vocals burst out from under the strong instrumental backing. Anytime Anywhere and Danger I Am were played early on as the crowd whipped their heads along appropriately. Half way through their set three of four band members rotated, swapping their instruments before continuing; this always greatly impresses. With their debut album to be released later this year it’s clear there’s a lot more to come from Magic Bones.

The four talented Findlay sisters who are Stonefield floated onto the stage to Stevie Nicks’s Edge Of Seventeen, which was a perfect match for their dreamy boho babe style. After the first track the crowd demanded the vocals be turned up. Lead singer Amy Findlay performed the first few songs up front while they had a male session muso at her usual position on drums. Love You Deserve was played in the first half of their set much to the crowd’s delight as it’s arguably still their best tune. Amy moved to the drums before they smashed out a surprisingly amazing rendition of Santana’s version of Black Magic Woman. They treated us with loads of their new stuff that has the edginess true to Stonefield’s style but also shows how the band has grown and progressed. Stonefield ended with Put Your Curse On Me, leaving the punters chanting along with passion.