With great expectations last Wednesday night saw Newport Folk duo Ben Riley and Jordan Wilson collectively called Georgia Fair play a sold out show at the intimate Toff.
The gig showcased songs off their first two EPs and some songs from their soon to released debut full length album. As you walked through the doors you got a sense for the potential buzz that will surround them when their album is released.
They kicked off the show with a great track from their first self titled EP called “Simple Man” followed by the title track to the latest EP “Times fly”. Both songs displayed their comfortable blend of laid back and melodic acoustically driven folk rock to perfection.
With polite banter between songs you immediately think these clean cut nice young folk with matching and easy listening harmonies are going to advance up the ladder that is the Australian music scene.
The Fair followed with some newer material with “Remember me”, “Where you been” and the slower song supported with the sweet sounds of clarinet on the track “The River”, Jordan’s vocals kind of reminding of a young David Gray when he himself was climbing a white ladder.
But as Regurgitator once said I like the old stuff better than the new stuff, so was fantastic listening to “Something Easy” followed by the catchy radio friendly ”Blind” which both received a positive reaction from the crowd.
The joint collaboration with mosquito net wearing Lisa Mitchell and Jessie Warren on the title track of the tour “Marianne” was a definite highlight of the night which displayed and complimented their sound very well.
The crowd favourite and biggest ovation of the night was clearly saved for their triumphant Big M ad single “Picture Frames”. it is a hugely catchy and great song that created the greatest test to the vocal talents of the crowd. They their 10 song set with “Gloria” which was good but paled in comparison to the preceding songs.
They sounded similar to their EPs, were complimented further when joined throughout the set by the drummer, singers, extra guitars which tended to fill out the sound more creating further completeness to the sound. Rock and Roll rule one of how to play a great show: always do an encore and give the people what they want i.e. “Little While” as that’s what rock and roll is all about, along with the beer. This scribe left the night feeling content and celebrated with a lazy Big M at the closest 7-Eleven. The power of subliminal advertising was just too great refuse.
– Myles Baden-Powell
