Supported by bands Banff and Blonde Tongues, Mosman Alder played last Friday night (19 Dec) at The Brightside.
The crowd was eclectic, the room filled with all sorts of different folk from the fresh-out-of-school music lovers to the been-around-the-block old-school rockers. The venue was dark and smoky, providing the perfect backdrop for the group of musicians on stage. And with the band numbering six, there were quite a few people to fit on stage, stretching from one side to the other.
Image © Demi CambridgeIt sounded as though everyone could sing and would take turns singing lead, back-up and harmonies. Add to the mix a violin, a bass, two guitars and two keyboards/ synths and you’ve got a whole lot of music-making going on.
Image © Demi CambridgeBand members Valdis Valodze, Jackson Muir, Robyn Dawson, Katarzyna Wiktorski, Liam Haug and Damian Wood not only have interesting names, but also play beautifully interesting music. The set was a mix of soaring melodies and dirty-synth grooves, overlaid with catchy lyrics. The only problem was consistency. The group felt like they started to get going and then faltered, gathered momentum and then slowed.
Image © Demi CambridgeThere were also some technical issues right at the beginning and the delay in starting caused a lag in the room’s energy, which made for a slightly frustrating set as it sounded like they never properly hit their stride and smashed it out.
Image © Demi CambridgeThe visual show that played on the background of the stage was a welcome addition to the feel of the show and when it all came together, the room was filled with light, loud clapping and a low hum of drums and bass.
Image © Demi CambridgeWith half the room enthusiastically dancing close to the stage and the rest standing back in the shadows, the crowd was as divided as the tracks, some clearly hitting the mark and some sliding off into a grey land of neutral tones. Having heard great things about this band, this show probably didn’t show all the colours that the group are possible of painting.
