After many months of preparation work and blood, sweat and tears, Sydney-based alternative rock band Cutwing are ready to take their debut EP on the road. But does their live sound compliment their radio-friendly image? Dave Roberts investigates...

The coveted and very exclusive underground music scene in Sydney has, until late, been rather devoid of much that had interested me. Mostly poppy acts that manage to put me to sleep, or at the other end, extreme metal music that both aggravates and leaves me rather cold. In fact, it is a very specific type of band, and exception if you will, that would make me put on some going-out attire and spend my night on a cluttered floor, seeing four or five bands which I had little interest in to see one that I did. Cutwing, however, is that exception.

As many of my loyal readers would know, this is a name I have mentioned before. In fact, I was honoured to review the band’s EP Inicia not that long ago, and since then I have kept a close ear to the ground for happenings with this group. So when bassist Simon Skipper asked me to tag along to their Tour Launch at the Gaelic Club in Sydney’s Surry Hills, I couldn’t refuse.

I managed to fight my way there on the trains just in time for the first support, MOTH. And I must say, I was impressed. Not unlike Cutwing to manage to bring top class acts to support them (even if The Sound Conspiracy was rejected), MOTH graced the stage well enough to get me moving closer. Their songs were heavy, but accessible to the general populous, and their on-stage presence was good enough for a first support act. Hey, no one likes playing to an unfamiliar crowd.

A short interval, and the next band 2.0.1.0. lit up the stage. Sounding like a mix between Evanescance and TOOL, the band peaked my interest immediately, however, I honestly lost it a little bit after the third song. The reason? Most of the songs sounded very similar, and even the crushing guitar riffs and insane vocal stylings weren’t enough to keep my interest in the band. Well done to the band just the same, but the vibe just wasn’t there for them unfortunately.

Now the next band made me do something I have never, ever, in all my years as a musician and a reviewer done. Leave. Arc Icarus just didn’t fit the bill of the night at all. They classed themselves as alternative rock, so on paper they looked right for the gig. But allow me to share the reasons why they managed to rub me up the wrong way. For starters, whilst setting up, the guitarist attempted to play a riff from a TOOL song – which he got wrong. That immediately put me off the band. It didn’t help that they were sloppy, and seemingly unrehearsed. Sure, I’ve graced the stage with the singer having lyrics in front of him or her before, but NEVER have I ever heard such terrible and out-of-key singing from a seemingly 'professional' band. Very little movement in the music, and lack of movement on stage (considering the style of music) brought my attention to a quick ‘nil’. And I left.

In fact, I headed down to the local pub to give my ears a rest for a brief half an hour before heading back into the fray – and it was a nice and much needed rest from the volume of the club.

I managed to head back just in time to hear the last support act’s set. And I have to say, Meniscus are the best live local band I have seen in a long, long time. If you think Pink Floyd meets COG, meets a lack of a singer, you manage to come up with this extremely talented and unbelievable band. They had the best light show by far (bringing a projector will do that for you), and they were tight, proficient, and maintained an aura of mystery. If there’s one point of criticism I would love to make, I would have loved to see no audience interaction at all – they could have pulled it off amicably. Other wise, well done, top stuff, and keep going!

But, the main event is what I came for – and a main event it was. Cutwing were professional, tight, and sounded as excellent as they do on their EP. In fact, I'll go as far to say that they are better live than on the EP. Opening with new tracks (not on the EP), the crowd exploded and sang along with the old favourites. The band moved as if pre-rehearsed, but nothing you would notice straight away. The light show was brilliant for a local gig, although pale by comparison to the former band’s projector-screen-madness, and the overall performance was a five-star treat to fans and reviewers alike.

When it was all over, I was sad to see it end. The level of technicality and professionalism left me wanting more. Overall, the gig was a great success (even if the middle band was less than average on the night), and I even managed to pick up another band to keep a close eye upon, which is a rarity for me. A top night, and a top band and tour launch. I only wish I was going on the road with them to see other reactions – because if they play half as well as they did here then people will be blown away.

I’m very glad I saw them for a measly ten dollars. Because mark my words, it wont be long before that ten dollars is twenty, forty, sixty, and then a hundred dollars. And there’s not a band better deserving of my money than this one in the local Sydney Scene today. A scene which is full of many plastic and same-old pop rock groups, singer-songwriters singing about their lost loves, or cover acts playing the same old tired pub music. Drab and grey as the Sydney music scene is, Cutwing have thrown some colour into the mix – not only on their EP, but live as well.

And you know what? I’m listening. And you should be too.