Live Review: The Gin Club, Harley Young & The Haymakers, June Low

Tonight is a homecoming of sorts to O’Malleys in Brisbane’s CBD – where The Gin Club formed as a loose collective over a decade ago – except that due to renovations and progress the original venue was actually about 100m down the road, so even given the proximity only the name really remains the same. Nonetheless there’s nostalgia in the air as June Low kicks off, the vehicle for singer-songwriter Emma White and her cohort Jane Elliott, who adds mournful cello to proceedings. White’s strong, expressive voice adds gravitas to her bluesy baroque folk, and tunes like New Days, Rome and June Low auger well for their forthcoming debut album.

Sandgate’s own Harley Young & The Haymakers showcase a clutch of tunes from their recent long-player Flinders Parade, the songs proving as alluring in the live realm as they do on record. Tracks like Margate GF and Balls Deep In Boondall seem intrinsically Brisbane-based in a way that’s pretty rare, yet they’re enjoyable because they’re strong songs and not merely parochial. Young himself is so genuine and sincere and possesses a clear rapport with his band, and when they finish with the aching Honey We Were Born Here the response from the strong crowd is enough to draw him back for an encore (the resigned Brother), an accolade rarely afforded the support band but tonight well deserved.

Despite having a new album in the offing tonight’s a trip down memory lane for The Gin Club, and with a near full contingent (albeit short two interstate members early due to plane delays) they revel in revisiting their beautiful first album, band spokesman Ben Salter giving a history lesson as they waft through a stream of beautiful early tunes like Bats and Country Romance, songs which don’t often get aired these days but have aged like fine wine (or probably goon in their case). There’s lots of good-natured ribbing and banter among the reminiscing, with beautiful, restrained tunes like Gabrielle showcasing a soft side to the band while the timeless Drug Flowers highlights the more rousing and bombastic elements they also do so well. Their myriad songwriters as always bring a welcome diversity, numbers like Conor Macdonald’s Blood On Your Jeans finding the crowd quiet and transfixed whereas upbeat sea shanty Wylde Bitch has everyone howling and singing amidst the drunken reverie.

They take a quick break instead of an encore, then continue for an another half-hour, trotting out songs like new single Dancing With The Ghost, Dear Rose, Gas Guzzler, Fear Of The Sea and a rousing cover of Neil Young’s Revolution Blues (with vocals from Mexico City’s Adam Toole) to finish a memory-refreshing and memorable set.