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BLOGFIGHT!
I've decided that part of the reason why I am so terrible at posting reviews on time is that I take far too many words to review them. Less is more, as they always say, and I don't necessarily have to take 1000 words to say something that can be better said in 500. So, concise.tight.reviews. is my plan. With that in mind, I'm going to review Lanie Lane and Kirin J Callinan in the same review, and I will decide which I liked better, and the winner gets more song plays from me! AND I'm going to be as brief as I can about both of them.
Lanie (pronounced "Lannie", somehow) Lane, has won over Rockwiz viewers and general Australians, bad teeth and all, with her 1950's rockabilly country pop style, and all the fashion and hairstyle trimmings to accompany it. It's a selective genre, one I've not been very familiar with or really found an interest in.
But for one parental birthday or another, I went along to the Hi Fi, Dad's favourite venue of choice (see 'Damned' review), to see her perform. Upon our arrival, the Rubens were already deep into their set, a band who is gaining a lot of momentum on Triple J at the moment. I really liked their effortlessly bluesy rock style, with a heartfelt croon which particularly stands out in their current single "Lay It Down". I even, almost, bought an EP.
Lanie was a happy, excitable young lady backed with a very exceptional band who accompanied her soulful voice well. She belted out her songs with emotion and thrill, playing guitar along with them. Throughout the tunes she threw in a couple of words about the songs, stories of love and loss, gentlemen and country livin', culminating in that one song I'd heard, "Oh Well, That's What You Get For Falling In Love With A Cowboy". Throughout the set I was very impressed with her talent and skill, and the way she and the band complemented each other so well. But I was sadly, and sorry to admit, a bit bored. The fact is, as I said, hers is not the type of music I'm that fond of, and it was really the style I was bored of. The only time it was changed up at all was during a duet with Lanie and her guitarist (Aidan Roberts), who sang a song about drugs that he had written. My parents thought it was a bit wanky, and as Lanie listed off a bunch of substances while backing Aidan's chorus, it kind of was. But it was also a very beautiful, stripped back song, that put the spotlight on Lanie's voice as well as showcasing Aidan's nicely.
Despite my waning interest, there was a full crowd tonight, and her popularity is for good reason. The girl has talent in spades and is obviously beloved for bringing old fashioned country music to a mainstream(ish) audience. She's even supporting Jack White on his Australian Tour. So, great job Lanie, and I'm sorry I don't like you more.
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| Lanie: No fucks to give. |
Then, a few weeks later on a Thursday night after a lovely dinner with a good friend, I accompanied my gig buddy/boyf to see Kirin J Callinan at Black Bear Lodge. I knew nothing about his old band the Mercy Arms, or himself, or what kind of music he performed (Triffids meets My Bloody Valentine was my reference point), but was happy to see something new... as I usually am!
After two support bands, one averagely ambient (DCM), and another much more entertaining and indie-licious (Nite Fields), we were both ridiculously tired. But thankfully, Kirin arrived with his super unique haircut: perfectly shaped black fringe with shaved head and very short straight mullet at the back of his neck.
Already fans were urging him to take off his shirt, to which he replied smoothly "In time, in time". I'm not sure if it was necessary, but he kept to his word upon reminder.
Anyway, to the music. I'm at a weird stage in my taste where I've discovered Rowland S. Howard, and now any angsty weird guy who sings with a deep voice sounds like him. I can't be objective enough to tell you if Kirin actually does, but he reminded me of Rowland anyway. Kirin had a band with him, all decked out in hospital masks, which he proudly told us he paid $2 each for. However, I'm not convinced they were necessary, as Kirin, his amazing, powerful, vibratoing voice, and his guitar that went from whispering to howling in seconds with hardly a strum, would have been enough.
After a couple of songs (I can't tell you what they were called, and I doubt setlist.com will be able to help me), in which all ears and eyes were glued to the stage, Kirin took to a different form of entertainment: spruiking autographed framed pictures of himself. It was pretty amusing and if they weren't a bit creepy, and I had the money, I would have bought one for the heck of it. His stage presence was pretty incredible and he had a really professional, and comfortably natural way with the crowd, despite having an appearance about him that would suggest a more timid, troubled genius.
His songs were confronting, heartbreaking, jarring, and shoegazey, and he conveyed so much with his voice, and accompanying facial expressions, it was easy to forget how tired I was and just watch the magic unfold. I was pretty well won over. They didn't have time to do a couple more as they had to drive back to Sydney, so it felt a lot shorter than it should have been, but very satisfying.
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| "When I told her, I didn't love her anymore, she cried." |
While his recorded stuff is good, he's really best to see live, so if he's ever around your way, do yourself a Steve Brule and CHECK IT OUT.
Lanie gets 7 out of 10 Peggy Olson 1960 Fringes, and Kirin gets 8.5 out of 10 Kirin J Callinan 2012 Fringes. KIRIN WINS! A toast.
p.s. Ah Blogger, you were doing so well, and now you're doing weird random highlighting that I can't turn off. I apologise on behalf of blogger, readers.
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