Friday night and everybody rocks. Kingswood, Delta Riggs and those youngsters from Victoria, Stonefield, brought it to the new rock and roll room, The Standard, on the third floor of what used to be Kinsela’s rock and roll venue. The ghosts of rock past still filled the place, but the owners of the space have done a wonderful job with his loft room turning it into a purposefully built music room. Great sight lines, great bar access and most of all, phenomenal sound.
Speaking of sound, The Delta Riggs were the second cab off the rank tonight. Playing to a packed house, the DR’s were smiling, sipping beers, and singing along together while causing a merry ruckus on stage. The combination of boogie, blues, and a beer-covered floor gave Elliot Hammond a chance to unleash his vocals and harmonica on “Never Really Liked You”, “Money” and “Counter Revolution”. These boys with guitars are a force to be reckoned with and keep your eyes open for a chance to get down with them.
From Iotah (their former name) to Stonefield this band of young females from Victoria are moving like a high speed skateboarder down a very large hill. These girls are cruising and most of all rocking the joint. With a set list that took us on a rock and roll journey for an hour, including a couple of tasty covers, the Findlay Sisters gave us a display that will only improve with time and maturity. “Yes Master” gave us a taste of that rock and roll voice from drummer Amy Findlay, with sister Holly on bass driving that rhythm section onwards and upwards.
“Foreign Lover” was delivered to an adoring audience with cameras and beers in everyone’s hands. The middle of the set seemed to take a turn towards sameness but this only lasted for a short period of time until the girls seemed to get it back on track when they blasted into the wild ride of “Bad Reality”. Someone had whispered to me that having a lead singer on drums took a bit away from the band as she was not really high on a riser, and sure enough, before the set was over Amy was up front doing the front woman thing right in everyone’s face while a friend took over the sticks. The floor was moving with the beat and the movement of the crowd and the electricity was truly coming from the stage now as Hannah was cutting it up and roaming the boards.
From their shed to playing at Glastonbury and the M.C.G., Stonefield are not just going to rock off into the distance. With their singles and E.P’s showcasing their hard rocking style, these girls will be tossing their hair and kicking ass with their instruments for some time to come. They are filled with the energy of youth and that brought those two covers to life tonight. Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” was very well received by all and the forceful cover of Zep’s “Whole Lotta Love” for an encore sealed the night with a dramatic kiss. The Sisterhood of Stonefield have just completed this tour and will return to their shed to work on their debut long player (hopefully) due out before the close of 2012. This is a story worth following, that is certain.
– Paul Busch
