My Echo
Even with quite the reputation as a “new” Adelaide venue, it seems Pirie & Co. Social Club are ticking all the right boxes and fast becoming a favourite amongst the nightlife and live music aficionados. With a solid turn out for what was a night featuring competitive acts elsewhere (hint: a group named after monkeys from the Arctic Circle were serenading fans telling them they “looked good on the dance floor” on the outskirts of the city), there was no room for disappointment in what was on offer on the lower levels of Pirie Street.
Local quintet Mayweather was first up and quickly grabbed the attention of the growing audience with their brand of alternative punk rock. With inspiration drawn from modern Australian alternative rock acts like After The Fall and Gyroscope, but with just a hint of pop punk thrown in for good measure, it’s understandable why this five-piece are constantly supporting some of the Australia’s best bands. Drummer Peter Edwards was powerful in his role and even with a mediocre mix to begin Mayweather quickly became the pinnacle of interest. This was accentuated skilfully with their singles Renegades and The Midnight Flight, the band’s new EP should be one to keep an eye out for in coming months.
Maybe Adelaide’s best kept secret Move To Strike took to the intimate stage next and instantly stood out. Ben Green serenaded the many observers at this point with a brilliant acoustic rendition of Billy Joel’s Only The Good Die Young to open which fantastically merged into the originals crafted by this excellent quintet. The truly exceptional songs like: Lost Our Voices, Last Man Standing and Inflight were executed superbly and Mr Green was commanding in his delivery. Guitarist Matt Roberts was more akin to a renegade chimpanzee with his energy on the smaller stage and new single Honest Men written by multi-instrumentalist Stephen Packer, showcased a different side to the band justifying the outfit’s aptitude. This clearly wasn’t my first time witnessing MTS, but like many others on the night, it’s far from my last.
As the drinks began to engulf the mindset of the patrons at the venue, it was now or never and quite the perfect timing for some sing-along slightly rockabilly inspired punk rock, enter Melbourne’s My Echo. Performing songs from their freshly released self-titled EP, as well as some the necessary older marvellous tracks, it was exactly what the doctor (well, bar tender maybe?) ordered for this time of night. With a sound which encompasses a nod of respect to everyone’s favourite blue collar rockers The Gaslight Anthem, plus a bit of Social Distortion and just a pinch of excellent simplicity slightly inspired by The Ramones, it’s crystal clear why this quartet are making waves throughout our fine nation. Black Water Blues and Lonesome City were highlights, but the set progressed so fluidly, the presentation as a whole was more than enjoyable. Although in honesty if Move To Strike were to headline this event it may have worked in every bands’ favour partially more, but in the end there were no complaints coming from any participant of the evening and that’s all that really counts.
Reviewed by Will Oakeshott
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