Went out last night and it kicked arse. We got there way early because we didn't realise the listed starting time was actually for an hour and a half of DJs playing a crappy mix. So in the two hours before the music started we sat, drank and talked. We did manage to get some of the few seats in the place which was good for seeing Rowland S. Howard.
He walks in while everyone's drunk and waiting for the real show to start. He's easily the tallest person in the room, with a bright red shirt on and a guitar case in one hand. He strides across the room, plants the guitar behind the other band's equipment then wanders off. Between then and when he started playing I went up to get a drink from the bar and ended up standing next to this dude who had one of those funny looking pencil-line moustaches. He got a bunch of drinks and didn't pay for any so I assumed he was part of the band. When I got back to where Cat and Katy were sitting Cat told me the guy was probably Gentle Ben from Gentle Ben and his Sensitive Side.
So Rowland S. Howard starts playing. I didn't know what to expect. I can't remember hearing any of his solo stuff, but Cat's recommendation and the fact he was in the Birthday Party is good for me. He was sitting by himself on the stage, no band, no backing recordings, just him slouching back with his guitar in his lap. He surpassed any expectations I had, playing in this noisy, jangling style that suited the emotional content of the lyrics really well.
After he finished Gentle Ben etc came on stage. I've heard the mp3s they have on thier site and I was expecting something sounding a lot like Pulp. But man, they were fantastic, too. Sorta crazy-arsed latin sounding rock about being rejected, relationships failing, going insane, that kind of thing. The guy's voice was amazing.
I'm not usually into live music, but what I saw has got me keen to see more.