Reviewed on Sunday July 19 (photo by Ashley Mar)
Tim Woodz is the kind of person your mum or dad would describe most fittingly as a ‘duffer’. Hapless, lanky and goofy, Woodz simply stands onstage and sings about some of the things he’s seen. As such, he’s got songs about possums, folk festivals and how he once went to see Geordie Lane and was instead greeted by Geordy Lane. It’s all accompanied by some jazzy guitar work and a broad, country-kid accent. This may all sound incredibly off-putting, but Woodz’ charm played a big part in the audience warming up to him. He was all grins and silly anecdotes, putting the crowd at ease and holding court over a few tall tales. This momentary glimpse into his daydreaming life was a nice enough way to kick back on a Sunday evening – nothing more, nothing less. Charming.
A few things didn’t quite seem right about Tex Perkins and The Dark Horses’ headlining show in Sydney on the back of their most recent album, Tunnel At The End Of The Light. The first came with the choice of venue – while Oxford Art Factory is a room that has serviced a considerable mix of styles and genres, this set definitely felt as though it would have been better suited to say, The Basement or maybe even 505. Another was that, sadly, it was too long – coming onstage five minutes early and finishing ten minutes late may seem like tiny trivialities, but they certainly added up in the long run as certain parts of the set seemed to drag on for indefinite spells. When Perkins said to the audience, “Let us know if you want some more,” as the supposedly final song rang out, it felt more pleading than provocative.
When the Horses are on, however, they’re a hazy delight of alt-country. Perkins commands the stage as only he can, throwing himself into particular lines and cracking the occasional joke. His right-hand man is Charlie Owen, who holds it down across keyboards, pedal steel and guitar – sometimes running two simultaneously – and maintains his status as one of the country’s most effortlessly impressive players. The six of them run a remarkably tight ship, and while this felt like the wrong place, it was ultimately the right time for an evening with the Horses. After all, Tex can get away with just about anything these days.
