Live Review: Thirsty Merc, Alice Terry, This Way North

Punters were out early and in force for Thirsty Merc's first Sydney to feature material from the band's fourth studio album, Shifting Gears.

Bluesy female duo, This Way North, kicked things off with a set that combined the best classic blues riffs and motifs with a rock aesthetic and interesting timing. Theirs is an accomplished sound, with the highlight number being Pretty Much. Closing out with a tune with an unerring stomp, this is a pair to watch and definitely one to rush out for when they next roll into town.

Alice Terry is an undeniable combination of old school chanteuse and the grit of Janis Joplin. Her songs are emotional without being cloying, and pair equal measures regret and lament, with cheek and sass. If the swoops and croons are anything to go by, Terry is a singer equally comfortable howling at the moon for the hell of it as she is walking the line of soul-wrenching honesty.

It's been a long five years since we last heard anything new from the Thirsty Merc boys — and an even rougher couple of weeks for them and their support team — but almost a year to the day since the band last trod The Basement's boards, they were back delighting a packed house.

A casual observer unfamiliar with recent events might have noticed a line-up reshuffle, featuring noted session sticksman Pete Drummond on the drums, the only change in a set that integrated new material — The Good Life, a real highlight — with the band's crowd-pleasing signature hit singles, Wasting Time, My Completeness and encore number, Someday, Someday.

The hometown crowd belted out the singalongs, clapalongs, howled the call and response and enjoyed the funky breakdowns and impressive solos. It's not every day you get to watch Drummond channel his inner Animal amid drumstick twirling and an errant escaping hi-hat.

Before dedicating 20 Good Reasons to their late stage manager Shane Cooper, bassist Phil Stack and vocalist Rai Thistlethwayte thanked the audience for the outpouring of love and support they have received since the accident that claimed Cooper's life, and gravely injured drummer Mick Skelton. Stack announced a benefit concert will be held at Enmore Theatre on 23 Nov, and will feature the talents of Dragon, 1927 and Jimmy Barnes.