Everything seems to be coming up Pierce Brothers.
With their eternally sunny dispositions and incredible work ethic, it isn’t too much of a stretch to see why good karma came knocking on their front door, strolled in, and made itself quite at home on their lounge room sofa.
2014 has been a stellar year for Melbourne’s favourite buskers-turned-national headlining duo, Jack and Patrick Pierce.
Their sophomore EP The Night Tree debuted on the ARIA charts at number 21; they had the unexpected honour of opening the Netherlands’ Lowlands Music Festival on 3FM radio to an audience of 1.5 million listeners; and in September they signed a worldwide deal with none other than Mushroom Music.
And on a personal note, tonight they fulfil a life-long dream of headlining a sold out show at the Corner Hotel in Richmond.
Along to share in this momentous occasion is Adelaide singer-songwriter, Timberwolf, and Cronulla-based gypsy ska-rockers Caravana Sun.
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Timberwolf, aka Chris Panousakis, supported by his band, delivers a strong set for early arrivals that showcases his soulful blues-drenched folk offerings, from his debut single ‘Garden’ to his latest release ‘It Burns’, and gives us an impressive short-course of everything in between.
Caravana Sun: Just, wow. Never has a bassist ever been so full of life (or in danger of wrapping himself up in his own cords) on a stage. From the get-go the audience is whipped up into the frenzy of the four-piece’s own making as they paint vivid pictures with deft strokes of the brush, so much so, that when they ask you to imagine yourself on a train in the south of Portugal you are instantly transported to that very train and enjoying every minute of the rollicking ride. Finishing a top notch set with crowd favourite ‘Gaia’, they certainly have the punters all warmed up for the main event.
After a short while, amid a teasing spotlight and growing anticipation, the curtain is finally drawn back and two figures stand in relative darkness. The room erupts- the Pierce Brothers are ready to start not a moment too soon.
The siblings’ Northern Lights Tour, presented by Lemon Tree, Tone Deaf, The Music and 123 Agency, is their biggest headlining tour yet and their excitement is rolling off them in waves.
Kicking things off with successful 2013 release ‘Tallest Teepee In Town’, the twins are quick to show why their live shows are gaining huge popularity by hooking their audience from the very first notes with their downright charmingly infectious enthusiasm.
From then on in, the audience is at the complete mercy of the engaging, high spirited multi-instrumentalists as they offer a set full of near perfect harmonizing, soul-shaking beats, and adding an unique twist to their live show with excellent use of didgeridoo and harmonica, all served with a highly contagious sense of good old fashion raucous fun and entertaining brotherly banter.
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Perhaps it is their time as buskers out on the streets of Melbourne that has given the Pierce Brothers the knack for making it seem all so very effortless and spontaneous as they bounce off each other’s energy and deliver songs such as ‘Audacity’ and the down-right miserable ‘It’s My Fault’ with a touching rawness and sincerity.
While their sound is generally classified as indie folk, they aren’t shy in dipping their feet into a wider pool of genres, touching on country with the up-tempo ‘Blind Boys Run’ and turning their hands at a mashed-up version of Lorde’s ‘Tennis Court’ and Calvin Harris’ ‘Feel So Close’ which makes for an all-in sing along.
In fact, most of their catalogue is sing-along/dance-along material, from their nautical narratives ‘White Whale’ and ‘The Anchor’ to the soaring ‘Flying Home’; which is pretty lucky, because as it turns out, tonight’s show is being recorded on film, which is made even more evidently clear when Pat holds up his camera-mounted guitar and shouts “Wave to my guitar!”
It’s an absolute joy to watch their joy in what they have achieved.
They let on that 2015 is shaping up to be a busy year as well, with a new album and a slot at the Falls Festival. And we now know a DVD will soon be available.
Jack quips, “We basically came here to brag to you guys” as the two lads wear matching grins. But in all honesty, you see how refreshingly humble and grateful they truly feel for these opportunities as they thank the family, friends and fans who have supported them from the beginning.
Ending the night on a high, they play a song named for their older sister, ‘Genevieve’, with sweet abandon, sweeping punters along with them for one last ride as BONJAH’s David Morgan lets loose with a confetti gun.
Yes, a confetti gun. How rock ‘n’ roll is that?
The guys will be performing at Ding Dong Lounge this Saturday the 15th of November as part of the AWME 2014 celebrations, for more info visit www.dingdonglounge.com.au or www.awme.com.au
