Reviewed on Saturday December 13
It’s the tail end of Jack Carty’s nationwide tour promoting his third album, Esk, and 505, the dimly lit jazz club on Cleveland Street, was a fitting space for the singer-songwriter’s intimate folk tunes. Carty came onto the scene in 2010 with his debut EP, Wine & Consequence. His third album is a continuation of the smooth folk-pop and heartfelt lyricism he has become known for. He’s also big on collaboration, with some of the songs on Esk co-written by Josh Pyke and featuring Katie Noonan. The collaborative spirit is similarly present in Carty’s live show, which feels like a loosely organised get-together of friends and musical collaborators.
New Zealand singer-songwriter Luke Thompson opened the night with a rhythmic set full of intricate finger-picking and plenty of good humour. Two of the five members of the Melbourne band Playwrite performed an emotive set to follow, pushing vocal limits and exploring the new terrain that comes with a more pared-back sound. 505 is a space that seems to magnify sonic detail and certainly does justice to subtle songwriting. Aside from the occasional interruption of a cocktail shaker, you could hear a pin drop.
As Jack Carty took to the stage, moving between piano and guitar, he launched into some of his catchier numbers before taking on more of a lullaby approach. On the whole, Carty’s music is a soothing kind of melancholy, beautifully crafted and lyrically thoughtful. The set culminated in a melodic sing-along of ‘If I Am A Candle, You Are A Spark’. Later, Carty was joined onstage by Thompson for a fantastic acoustic cover of ‘Blood’ by the now-dissolved Australian band, The Middle East. Strong on the collaboration front, this tight trio of performers offered up a night of captivating harmonies and powerful lyricism.
