Gig Review: Saving Grace, The Affairs & Mushu at Slide

It was a motley crew that gathered at Slide Bar on Oxford St on Friday July 10^th. Motley because that is what happens when you get four acts with such distinctly different sounds performing at the one venue on the same night. Billed as the perfect way to shake those winter blues, the evening did just that. And, judging by the packed venue and exuberant dance floor (presided over by two particular men with a penchant for odd Russian-dancing style moves) the cross genre line up of four of Sydney’s most exciting unsigned acts, worked a charm.

Support act Cara McPhillips and her guitar opened, and what a pretty relationship that is. The Novocastrian’s pure vocals and stripped performance was a good way to kick off the evening, for those filtering in after work in search of a glass of wine or two.

Saving Grace are generating a lot of hype this year, riding high as they are on the release of their second EP, Pages. There isn’t another group out there with this type of sound; they are quite simply one of the must-see live bands in Sydney right now. Sam McNeill’s classically trained, haunting vocals can literally silence a room and then moments later move that same room to sing, dare I say lustily, the chorus of one of their standout numbers, Something Tells Me. The cello and violin made for some simply stunning moments in the set and help in crafting the unique sound these guys have become known for. Whilst it’s tricky to fully appreciate Saving Grace in a less-than-intimate setting like Slide, the band more than brought the necessary energy to the table and jumped that hurdle with ease.

Speaking of energy, there’s probably no other word more oft associated with the third act, smooth gentlemen, The Affairs. Lead singer and bona fide Pocket Rocket Mikey Votano has the ability to make a room pulsate, and drag even the most reluctant of dancers to the floor. Those who weren’t reluctant, including the aforementioned Russian Dancers who clearly needed no such encouragement, were pretty much on the floor from the opening number – the reputation of their gigs is beginning to precede these boys. In a nod to the late Michael Jackson the boys belted out a brilliant medley that set the venue on fire and showcased some terrific moments on the guitar from Dan Romeo.  There literally wasn’t a still foot or hip in the house by the time the guys had worked their way through their high-energy set, which includes debut single and crowd pleaser Spaceman, launched in May this year.

It’s also worth noting, for those who plan on attending future gigs, that whatever bar these boys play at, you can knock back a signature The Affairs shot. And yes my friends, it’s very good.

Rounding out the evening, with a completely different sound yet again were Sydney based band, Mushu. I’ve never actually seen this guys live, and in a way wish my first Mushu experience hadn’t been at the end of an evening that had reached its energy crescendo. Acoustic, chilled and earthy, these guys describe themselves as a ‘story telling band’ and rope in a range of more experimental instruments to achieve their rather gentle sound. I would have perhaps loved to have seen them in a different spot in the line up, despite the clear objective of having them last being to help the audience cool off before they headed home. The sweet and pure vocals of lead singer, Simone, are a definite highlight, particularly on the eminently easy-to-listen-to track, Pleased to Meet You.