Every time I see

Cabins
they seem to be getting stronger and stronger as performers. They write
good songs and are doing a lot of touring which I guess is essential for a band
that is on the rise. Their music isn’t as straightforward as many of the
Australian acts they have supported over the past year, but to me this is their
strength. They write music with a very strong groove and this is what works in
their favour in a musical climate where many things are starting to sound the
same. Having achieved iTunes single of the week in the week leading upto the

Mess Hall
regional tour, Cabins are on their way to becoming bigger.

Bridezilla, like Cabins, are also on the rise, with the output of an acclaimed EP and an album.
Bridezilla never fail to captivate with their unusual instrumentation and
youthful charm. Starting heir set with "Lunar Eclipse", the ladies stamped their
feet in time with the kick drum of drummer Josh Bush. Starting a set with the
first song on an album goes a long way to setting up the rest of the set, readying
the audience for a slow dance to the croons of front woman Holliday Sidewinder
and the rustic yet regal tone emanating from Daisy Tulley’s violin. The
saxophone playing of Millie Hall juxtaposes the sounds of the violin with a
tone that only a woodwind could . The unusual instruments end there, but you
can’t ignore guitarist Pia May adding the back-bone to the structure of the
songs with simple guitar chords allowing the other instruments to flourish
around her with the help of Bush on drums. Though lacking in a bass player, the
solid chord progressions allow the songs to flow in their beauty rather than be
subjected to the rhythmic nature of the bass guitar. Though it wasn’t the first
time I’d seen Bridezilla, I am still captivated by violin player Daisy’s
exquisite yet erratic movements around the stage as she bows her instrument and
it goes without saying for anyone who has seen Bridezilla, Daisy has one
particular move which always steals the show, but I wont give it away to anyone
who hasn’t.

"For The Birds" seem
to hit the shelves with little to no fanfare or hype, which came as a bit of a
surprise after the 2007 AMP award wining "Devils Elbow". Nevertheless a
sizeable crowd was in attendance at the show to see The Mess Hall, completing
the all Sydney affair. For a two-piece, the Mess Hall pack a big punch; the thunderous
drums of Cec Condon layered underneath a single guitar played by Jed Kurzal, complimenting
the drums to create a groove you can’t dismiss. Kurzal’s voice is raw and warm, giving the duo the right touch of blues to keep head nodding and the patrons
swilling on their drinks.

Joining the duo on the
night was ex-
Wolfmother
keyboard player Chris Ross, who for several songs added
to the slight psychedelic sounds with warbles of a keyboard. I hadn’t heard a lot
of "For The Birds" coming into the night, but all the songs played had a
definite energy about them and fit seamlessly into the set. The band tore
through many of the hits off "Devils Ebow" and quite a few tracks from the
latest album, which the tour was for. It’s good to see an Australian band that
has received its fair share of accolades, going on a regional tour taking their
music to towns that don’t receive a whole of coverage.