Sydney venue The Basement recently played host to Abby Dobson (formerly of Leonardo's Bride) and an Australian legend. Mark Seymour (formerly of Hunters and Collectors) took to the stage one night ahead of the release of his new album 'Undertow' to play a set of triumphant new songs, and timeless classics. Setlist included.

Melbourne based songstress Abby Dobson welcomed the packed house with her warming and echoed sound. For a one-woman act her voice resonated throughout the entire venue, and stopped everyone. Now, that might appear to be the norm at any concert, but when half the space of the venue is occupied by tables and people dining, it says a lot when they hang onto every word, even when she's just talking between songs. Her set closed with a pitch-perfect rendition of Even When I'm Sleeping that had everyone wanting more.

Mark Seymour walked on stage, dressed sharply like a man on a mission, introducing the band whom finally have a new name, 'The Undertow'. He was here to sell his new album, one that the audience had not had a chance to be familiar with yet with a release date of the following day. Despite that, the crowd was open to and welcomed the new song- they were catchy, soulful and at time blues infused. Just as the album cover suggests, Undertow is an album that presents a coastal sound with the frustrations and turbulent nature of a storm brewing. Mark and the band did it such justice despite it being the songs first live performance. They were coordinated and fluent in their performance and heightened the songs desired reactions accordingly. The opening song Silvia's in Black was smooth, dreamy and had the audience already singing the chorus by the middle of the song. A scene-scape of broad-horizon ruminations was established for the evening.

The audience was excited when Mark thanked and welcomed Abby back out onto the stage to perform two songs. Their voices perfectly complemented their counterpart- it was a shared gift. The middle of the set featured what was played as the most anthematic songs. Eldorado, a song about Crown Casino that “makes Vegas look like a kindergarten” was a loud, guitar driven track. It mixed shredded guitar with mixes of invention and classicism.

At times the band lacked movement on stage, and the mood was soured when something was relayed to Mark by his guitar tech; throwing his towel to the ground and shouting out swearing, he sung the next song noticeably angry and annoyed.

The newly debuted songs were welcomed and entertaining, but when it came time for the closing number those that were holding their breath, could sigh relief. “I used to be in a band, now I'm in another” Mark quipped with a smile on his face, and now it was time to drift back 25 years. The opening guitar-finger-picking chords opened for Throw Your Arms Around Me and despite getting them wrong the first time, the song was re-started and the crowd was more than eager to hear this immutable Australian classic for as long as could be supplied. Anybody who is familiar with The Basement will note its layout – three sides of balconies, with the stage completing a fourth. A surround-sound-sing-along of the classic sent the audience home satisfied after a fulfilling night of new and classic Australian tunes.

Setlist:

Sylvia's in Black
Red Lady's Gone
Everything's on Fire
Westgate
Little Bridges (with Abby Dobson)
Castlemaine (with Abby Dobson)
I Know Too Much About You
Blind Eye
Eldorado
Cry in the Rain
Classrooms and Kitchens
Love is a Heave Load
Legend of the Snowmen
Do You See What I See?
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Jerusalem
One More Ride
Say Goodbye
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Throw Your Arms Around Me