Live Review: The Stillsons, The Bastard Children, Bill Jackson & Pete Fidler

Outside, the cold, damp streets are devoid of people, but within this bustling venue, a very particular type of warmth is drawing in a thickly cloaked huddle. The type of warmth only bluegrass, country and beer can bring.

Compelling duo Bill Jackson & Pete Fidler bawl lonely, heartfelt stories about pilgrimages to Tennessee and how to turn the tables on Jehovah's Witnesses. Fidler's inspired lap steel and guitar playing seems to draw down streaks of silver rain whenever he drags his slide or slips a sprightly lick between Jackson's lyrics. Any excuse to hear this man embellish a sorry tale is valid, such is his talent, and it's a testament to Jackson's charisma and songwriting chops that he's not sidelined. 

The Bastard Children offer irreverent busker-y bluster to their folk rock. Banjo, mandolin and harmonica push their Celtic soul from middling fare to something that will hopefully enliven festival bills throughout the summer. Songs about long journeys with ferrets, whales falling in love with lifeboats and broken hearts intermingle, and none seem out of place. Songs like Come On In showcase their prodigious multi-instrumentalism and songwriting skills and as the set moves from intelligent balladry to knees-up/elbows-out accordion-toting folk dancing, the audience loosen up and move forward.

By now nearly full, the room is humming animatedly with plenty of drink assisting The Stillsons' warm reception as the curtains part and the band's new album Never Go Your Way is launched. With carefully constructed alt.country ballads and superlative live mixing, The Stillsons have punchy, spacious songs that drummer/vocalist Cat Canteri's warm tones spread over like hot molasses. Fellow songwriter Justin Bernasconi's considerable skills as a guitarist/singer never overcome the classy songwriting. Occasionally drifting into soft-rock territory (Family On The Run), or barroom boogies (Small Things) the sounds are always warm. The acerbic Go Home and Stay Awake tackle racism and tenement living in a Costello-esque, effective way, and lend some gravitas to the mix.

Despite songs falling into predictably wholesome patterns, the band clearly ace everything they set out to do. Pedal steel maestro Ben Franz elevates and distinguishes the band with a gritty grace and a litany of guests including Jeff Lang only reinforces the band's rare ability to support a song as a collective rather than enhance the product of one ego. The more rockin' Dish It Up shows us a riled-up band, which is a good thing. After closing with the righteous swagger of You Don't Know What I Need, the band return for an encore of Another Lover and the massive Charity & Ghosts. The punters emit nothing but raucous shouts and massive smiles. Win.