While using the slightly generic word ‘fun’ to describe a gig may seem palpably lacking in inspiration, it has to be said: The wheeling fun had on stage by Ben Wells And The Middle Names – together with support band Buchanan – was nothing short of infectious.
Local act, Buchanan, looked well and truly at home at Workers Club. Thundering into their instruments straight away with a blast of enthusiasm, not to mention volume, the four piece ensemble maintained a truly electric interaction between them.
Lead vocalist Josh Simons and lead guitarist Luke Shields in particular, have a dynamic stage presence. They are clearly great mates and really play to one another beautifully. It was especially rousing to see Simons shouting “Come on!!” into Shields’ ear, as he tore seamlessly through a rousing guitar solo within the first two songs.
Buchanan’s music is an alt rock/indie pop blend which, while perhaps nothing new, is remarkably difficult to resist dancing to when performed by such confident musicians.
Accomplished performances from each of the band members put the entire room at ease, such as during ‘Mr Keeperman’, and sing-along pop sensation in the waiting ‘Run Faster’.
‘When The Sun Comes Round’ showcased the group’s diversity of sound wonderfully. Opening with gently resonating guitars to compliment Simons’ indie-rock vocals, the song developed an engaging momentum, eventuating in an optimistic anthem of a chorus.
At times, the entire band even circle around Dan Barwick’s drum kit in a kind of tribal rock ritual. The experience of watching Buchanan play, quite literally, may have left the crowd feeling a little left out at such moments.
The audience seemed to be rhythmically extending their limbs, purely to tap Simons on the shoulder and ask, ‘can we play, too?’
Not that anyone was really complaining! They were too busy dancing happily in the palms of Buchanan’s hands, to a very tight set of consistently enjoyable songs.
Hailing from Tasmania, Ben Wells And The Middle Names later apologised to the crowd for not making it to Melbourne more often. “Sorry. The deck chairs on the Spirit of Tassie are really uncomfortable.”
In his branded hat and t-shirt, a young Wells could easily be underestimated at first glance. However, there is a maturity and sincere warmth to his’ songwriting which became apparent very quickly.
The intimate venue was perfect for Wells to communicate his lyrics to a refreshingly polite and supportive audience. ‘My Brother And I’, ‘A Good Read’, and ‘Bear In A Birdcage’ all exemplified his ability to sing about the things that actually concern and inspire him.
There was no recycled love song here; while Wells’ vocal performance became a little tired towards the end of the gig, his ability to honestly share a story never waned.
Musically speaking, the ringleader was also the clear stand-out. He was well supported by his band, however they seemed to need a few songs to become more comfortable on stage.
It was relieving to see that by the end of the set, the outfit were beaming at one another, visibly having a terrific time behind their instruments. Solid harmonies decorated the folk-driven pop music, particularly the spritely and impossibly catchy ‘Robin Hood’.
In a night of heartwarming moments, perhaps the most heartwarming of all was Wells’ announcing he would perform ‘Old Sea Salt’ acoustically.
Immediately, the sound technician sprang through the crowd to the stage-front with an assortment of cables and leads. “Nah, mate, I’m just gonna sing to them,” Wells assured him with a cheeky grin, stepping ahead of the mic stand to address his audience with just an acoustic guitar.
Before the sound tech could amble back to his desk, the entire room of bodies were hypnotised into silence by the solitary musician. The authentic emotion within Wells’ vocals was spellbinding.
Clearly, this young Tassie is an astute musician, with the potential to develop into a breathtaking songwriter.
Melbourne might want to start funding comfier Spirit of Tasmania deck chairs soon, as the city would be lucky to see more of him.
