Curious punters struggled up the seemingly never-ending steps of Curtin House, and trickled in through the Toff’s front door to catch a glimpse of earnest up-and-comers Enola Fall. The Tasmanian four-piece appeared grateful to be given the opportunity to play in the big smoke, and were eager to impress from the outset.

Displaying hints of the flair and flamboyance of Muse and abstract melodies akin to Wild Beasts, the band seemed to lean a little too heavily on their influences, which was to the detriment of sounding fresh and exciting. It was also difficult to tell whether posing for photos with the front row mid-set and handing around a notepad and pen for feedback came off as amateurish or endearing. Take your pick.

Then it became time for Sydney’s latest indie ‘it’ band The Jezabels to
emerge through the dim red haze onto the stage, determined to prove to the crowd that they are indeed worth the hype. Clad in black, the band meant business, showcasing triple j favourites "Hurt Me" and "Easy To Love", which were lapped up with gusto by those in attendance. Singer Hayley Mary’s slight frame and long dark fringe made more than a few young gentlemen want to recite some Hail Marys of their own. Her soulful howling, somewhat reminiscent of what I imagine the lovechild of Katy Steele and Karen O to sound like, proved to be a major highlight of the evening.

Pairing piercing keys and driving drumbeats along with the aforementioned soaring vocals, The Jezabels pooled their focus to create rollicking renditions of their budding repertoire and left ears pleasantly ringing long into the night.

Photo by Jefske jefske@gmail.com