Grinning with The Eastern

The Eastern with Cherrywood, Thursday 22 March, 2012 at The Retreat Brunswick

Reviewed by Kinch Kinski | Photography by Madeleine O’Brien

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The night opens with a hilarious, charming, enthusiastic, talented train wreck of a support act — Cherrywood — who cuss and scream their way through a frenetic set involving faulty pick-ups, a smashed beer glass, and some great music.

Once the debris is cleared away, The Eastern take the stage and ease into an incredible set. The band sound absolutely gigantic live, with Jess Shanks’s banjo, Johnno Hopley’s double bass, and Simon Hall’s guitar locking in on a rythmic and harmonic backbone that gets both legs stomping. Frontman Adam McGrath brings a huge presence – both literally and figuratively – to the stage, and every note belted forth in his husky, powerful baritone has the sound of absolute sincerity. When fiddle player Flora Knight launches into a solo, everyone pays attention – she hangs back from the beat, playing with intensity and toe-curling sensuality. Rounding out the sound are the vocal harmonies of Charlotte Ivey, a dark-haired chanteuse with a smoky voice.

Winterkill is The Eastern’s catchiest song. A plea for the solace of human connection in a cold world, its addictive melody and relatable lyrics — “Pick me up honey, I’ve seen trouble all my days” — create a pop country earworm that is hard to shake.

Another highlight is Talking Advertising Cellular Sell Out Blues, which McGrath plays solo. The song is a Woody Guthrie-style talking blues bemoaning the penchant of young artists for selling songs to ads – this could be a recipe for a pat novelty song, but McGrath enlivens the formula with heart and humour.

On Southern Girl, Shanks sings with unpretentious soulfulness, and a shiver passes around the room when the song breaks down to just guitar and haunting three-part harmonies.

But, ultimately, it is not just the music that make this band such an incredible live act. The songs are great and the musicianship on show is world class, but it is the connection forged with audiences that is special. The Eastern demand energy from the crowd and then reward it tenfold, overcoming the lack of enthusiasm endemic to Melbourne crowds and leading a packed room in joyful sing-alongs, which put a grin on everyone’s face and draw people irresistibly onto the dance floor.

McGrath’s stage banter rises and falls melodically and he hypnotises like a Kiwi deep south preacher. It is testament to McGrath’s charisma that, towards the end of the set he manages to introduce two members of the audience – Michael and Emily- and get them waltzing while the band roars Sam Cooke’s Bring It on Home to Me and McGrath enthuses that “we’re making babies here tonight.”

It is by combining great music with real moments of joy and connection for their audience that The Eastern nail it to the door so thoroughly. It is this that keeps people coming back for more, this that is earning them their diverse fan base and reputation – this is why you must catch them live as soon as possible.

The Eastern 2012 Australian Tour Dates

• Saturday, 7 April – (McNairs) Alexandra Hotel, Alexandra VIC

• Sunday 8 April – StLeonard’s Winery, Wahgunyah (Rutherglen) VIC

• Monday 9 April Bridge Road Brewery, Beechworth VIC

• Friday 13 April – Baha Tacos, Rye VIC

• Saturday 14 April – The Old Bar, Fitzroy VIC

• Sunday 15 April – Post Office Hotel, Coburg VIC

• Friday 20 April – Martians Café, Deans Marsh VIC

• Saturday 21 April – Apollo Bay Music Festival, Apollo Bay VIC

• Sunday, 22April – Apollo Bay Music Festival, Apollo Bay VIC

• Wednesday 25 April – TBA

• Thursday 26 April – Mojo’s Bar, Hamilton, VIC

• Friday, April 27, 2012 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thebarton SA

• Saturday 28 April – The Exeter, Adelaide SA

• Sunday 29 April – La Mar Sunday’s at Glenelg Surf Club, Glenelg SA

• Thursday 3 May – The Mustang, Northbridge WA

• Friday 4 May – Indie Bar, Scarborough WA w/ Boston & Chevy and Ruby Boots

• Saturday 5 May – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Fremantle WA

• Sunday 6 May – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough WA

• Wednesday 9 May – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane QLD

• Thursday 10 May – TBA

• Friday 11 May – Valla Beach Tavern, Valla Beach NSW

• Saturday 12 May – TBA

• Sunday 13 May – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland NSW

• Thursday 17 May – Camelot Lounge, Marrackville NSW w/Ruby Boots

• Friday 18 May – Karuah River of Music Festival, Karuah NSW

• Saturday 19 May – Karuah River of Music Festival, Karuah NSW

• Sunday 20 May – Karuah River of Music Festival, Karuah NSW