Like all good front men, Bjenny Montero knows there is a fine line between charismatic and obnoxious. His performance at the Workers Club last Wednesday night provided more than enough evidence of this. From climbing sloth-like over the stage to addressing his audience as ‘mother fuckers’, he treads that line recklessly and without sober logic. At times it would’ve been permissible to think a mass walk-out was in order. Yet the crowd stayed, and for good reason. Putting his antics aside, Montero and Co are a supremely talented outfit and one to look out for. As much as he might have liked, last night wasn’t all about Montero.
Two other equally as impressive acts were also on display, namely the Orbweavers and Wintercoats. With a purely coincidental – yet moodily apt – forest backdrop on stage, talented multi-instrumentalist James Wallace (aka Wintercoats) greeted a curious yet generous mid-week crowd. Using a loop pedal and his trusty violin, Wallace’s set was wistful and displayed his atmospheric range, even though at times his voice got lost amidst the heavily-populated backing tracks.
The Orbweavers took to the stage next with a rather anxious lead vocalist in tow. By her own admission, Martia Dyson is a nervous woman. She’s nervous about time, she’s nervous about farming, she’s even nervous enough to believe her guitar tuner is telling her lies. She shouldn’t need to worry so much. Her band is a gloriously dark folk outfit that has the perfect ace up their sleeve, lead guitarist Stuart Flanagan. His feel and intuition gives the Orbweavers a lot of their oomph. Their performance is suitably gloomy, peaking with the deceptive ‘On My Way Home’.
With a flower on the microphone lead and a fish-tank light show on loop, Montero arrived with more energy than is acceptable for a lazy Wednesday evening. Their style is an interesting one; driving prog-rock rhythm with carefully placed flourishes of keyboard pop. Yet it works due to the skill of their players. ‘Rainman’ – which will be released as a 7” vinyl in September – is one of a number of anthems that impresses a receptive crowd. If they can hold together you can’t help but think there’s a profitable future ahead. And, of course, there’s Bjenny – obnoxious wannabe or perfect indie lead? It’s tough to tell. Maybe that’s the way he wants it.
– Paul Bonadio
