John Butler Trio Band Competition
Band comp nights at UniBar are always interesting. You go into it not knowing what you are in for or if you are even going to enjoy the musical performances on offer. Luckily tonight the stars aligned and UniBar was graced with some amazing performances.
Penny Hartgerink has everything you could ever want in a singer/songwriter; beauty, talent and an amazingly angelic voice. On stage with only her voice and a guitar she held a captivated audience in the palm of her hand with her beautifully stripped back folk sound.
When the next act, the Ben Russell band, came on it wasn’t hard to tell they have been playing together for many years. They provided a tight set of laidback, beachy, I’m-driving-up-the-coast-to-Byron type music. Unfortunately there was nothing that helped them stand out from all the other struggling musicians trying to make a name for themselves. It’s no longer enough to just be a good musician you have to have something of interest that makes audiences stand up and take notice.
The next act took us to the other end of the spectrum with their very quirky pop sound. This wasn’t surprising with a name like Bennie James and the Hesitant Few. They may have been trying a little too hard to be different but their last song, “Do Whatever You Want” was a glimpse into the amazing potential hiding behind all that showiness. The change in energy in UniBar was evident as soon as the song started and it was clear by working on and developing this sound the band have the opportunity to go beyond local band obscurity.
It was The Tracks, with their feet tapping John Butler Trio vibe, who provided one of the best performances of the night. They appear to possess enough natural individuality without needing to try too hard to be different. Even though the guys have been playing together for over a decade they still seem so effortlessly fresh and unique. The lead singer, who bares a striking resemblance to Old Man River, has a fantastic raspy quality to his voice. His comradery with his band mates, especially the bass player, was evident through the tight set and amazing duets.
The closing act for the night was Honest John, a roots band fronted by a very unassuming lead singer/guitarist who brought a country twang to his vocals. With a very diverse sound that takes influence not only from roots but also rock and even swing, Honest John provided a brilliant finish to what was an interesting evening.
In the end it was Penny Hartgerink who took out the coveted prize of $1000 cash and the opportunity to play onstage at the Union of Soul concert at Wollongong Botanic Gardens. Congratulations Penny and to all the other acts good luck with all your future musical endeavours.
By Kate Reid
