The Sleepy Jackson

It's early for Reading it's too damn early and my ears are still ringing from last night's Donnie Darko. Why am I up? To see a band a mate recommended The Sleepy Jackson all I know is they're Australian and I need another rollie and another cup of coffee. But I'll watch their first track...

Dammit they were good I stood there watching the antics of quite possibly a perfect Saturday opener who were thoughtful and weird, an Aussie Flaming Lips. Their lead singer at one point playing guitar with a knife and fork and stayed for the whole set. Okay the lead singer may be full of himself, hurling random muttered statements into a waking crowd, posing as he struts. It's music for the Barbi, Big sound guitaring and I'm thinking of sunny Oz as the sun breaks out. The music reminds me at times of the Jayhawks or George Harrison's solo stuff with slide guitar and open chords and it may not be groundbreaking but they've got their alternative Country shit together.



Their music is good, airy and tight, well crafted, occasionally vitriolic or full of loss and although they don't draw the crowd in between tracks the audience are warmed by what they're playing. Even the bit with the knife and fork sounded harmonious! By the time they've finished it's forget the coffee I've had a full Australian breakfast.

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