Time flies by. It feels like yesterday that I was treated to The Storm In A Teacup. A collaboration of six different bands who interconnect in all different ways. Let me start from the end of the night with each musician together at once. From then on, I can describe how your favourite songs were tuned and tinkered with throughout the two hour set.

It was the solo guitarist Jordie Lane who introduced the 10 musicians involved. Their places of birth varied from Ukraine, to Poland, Rockhampton, Port Macquarie, Melbourne, Thornbury, and London. The Storm In A Teacup was a mix of friends, a marriage, siblings, and cousins collaborating music together. The bands go by the names of Tinpan Orange, Harry Angus, Husky, Liz Martin, Jordie Lane and Jen Cloher. The smoothness in morphing into one another’s tracks was a special spectacle to watch.

The crowd laughed along with Harry Angus's stage commentary and humorous lyrics. References to sports stars infidelity and being caught nude in public made the crowd laugh. He draws heavily on Australian lyrical inspiration about family, suburbia and popular culture. A selective choice which resonates with the Australian audience and makes them smile. This effect was especially evident in his tracks “Batsman” and “Smallest Hour”. Liz Martin added her part into the “Smallest hour” by whistling at pivotal moments which added even more humour to the song.

From laughter you were transported towards silent awe , when Harry's wife Emily from Tinpan Orange came on stage to sing. Her voice is an enchanting mix of husky tones and quirky pitches. Her versatile vocal capabilities made her usual folk tones easily adapted to a country style when she added her part into Jordie's track “Sweet Somebody”.

Jordie Lane had flown back from American only the morning before. None of his newly recorded music was played, but old tracks such as the “Publicans Daughter” were a crowd pleaser. Husky's Drummer Luke added his skills into the song with a pair of metal drum brushes which imbued a rustic depth to the song. Harry Angus also tuned in with his trumpet, an interlude which was applauded with a loud reaction from the audience.

The audience was also treated to Harry's trumpet playing in a brand new song by Jen Cohler. A song not yet named, not recorded, or played live before. She expressed that she was feeling vulnerable and nervous playing it to everyone for the first time. To make matters worse for her there was a loud sound fault from the speakers. Throughout the night there was a continuous joke and blame directed towards the banjo causing this mysterious wave of pops. Jen handled the nerves and technical fault by chatting to the crowd and introducing violinist Alex Burkoey (Tinpan Orange). On take two she played the guitar with soft romantic strums, and perfect alto vocal notes. In theme with the night, added to Jen's new song was the trumpet played by Harry, violin by Alex and Banjo played by Jordie. She had no reason to be nervous, the unnamed song was loved by the crowd.

Alex Burkoey from Tinpan Orange deserves a much bigger mention than above. He, as well as Husky drummer Luke accompanied the majority of the two hour set. Alex plays “everything you could image”, which Is a quote from the introduction that Harry gave the crowd. Alex handled the mix up between violinist and mandolin throughout the night. As Luke switched his drum sticks between metal brushes, padded, and back to wooden.

Luke and Alex were given a break in Tinpan Orange's new track the “Lonely People”. There were jokes about the banjo again, as emily cheekily requested that Jodie didn't stuff up her song. Everyone gathered around their mic and all at once sung the chorus “we are the lonely people”. Eight outstanding voices. The night ended with a track titled 'The Weight', with the love, enjoyment and fun that the bands were experiencing also being felt by the crowd.

Image from: whothehell.net