Live Review: Super Wild Horses, Day Ravies, The Kramers

It seems gig-goers are loathe to come out of hiding and brave the cold early, forcing opening act The Kramers to play to a barely-there audience at Black Bear Lodge. To their credit, the local outfit perform with all the gusto and energy you might find at a sold out gig. Frontman and creative instigator Ethan Kernaghan is a sight to behold – while he mightn't be old enough to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, he possesses a charisma, musical ability and commanding stage presence that would be the envy of many performers twice his age. Whilst slamming out his rockabilly, garagey, surf-pop riffs on the guitar, he's also flailing about spasmodically, moaning, groaning, grunting and howling, and it all comes together in a strange yet beautiful way.

Sydney-based drone-pop outfit Day Ravies are next, and are welcomed by an audience much stronger in numbers. This group ooze charm and indie sensibilities, whilst giving off an overall tone of modesty and simplicity. When they play their single Double Act, the slight imbalance in the sound levels has a noticeable impact, as Lani Crook's sweet and innocent vocals are barely audible over the guitars. Adding to her troubles, halfway through the set Crook's synth stand collapses, and while shocked for a moment, she swiftly proceeds to keep playing from the ground; a ringing endorsement to the old saying 'the show must go on'. With Sam Wilkinson, Caroline De Dear and Crook sharing the vocal duties quite equally throughout the set, there's a good blend of soft and heavy, light and dark.

Super Wild Horses, the Melbourne-based duo of Amy Franz and Hayley McKee, are welcomed with a tremendously warm reception from spectators when they take the stage. Franz is in control of the guitar and leading vocal duties as they open the set, giving us a solid run-through of tracks from the sophomore album they're launching tonight, Crosswords. With Franz as frontwoman, there's a distinct lean towards the grungey garage vibe, as evident in Alligator, Memphis and You Have Two Feet (So Run). The pace is then slowed down for the sombre sounds of Dragging The Fog, before the girls swap instrumental duties for the remainder of the set. McKee brings a softer, surfier style of pop to the evening, with Waikiki Romance, Meant For Two and Setting Sun. Together, these girls have an unassuming and beautiful stage presence, which the audience have been lapping up right from the start. With few of their songs reaching the three-minute mark, the set is short and sweet, although it seems as though most of this audience could have danced and swooned to the tunes of Super Wild Horses all night.