DeWolff at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory
Bianca Cornale battled a hangover but made it through most of DeWolff’s howler of a set at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory.
Recently Australia’s East Coast has played host to Dutch psyche/rock and roll/blues machine DeWolff, who put on a thoroughly fun show at Sydney’s Oxford Arts Factory. Though I admit I was heinously tired and of ill health (i.e. hung-over) I begrudgingly dragged my sorry self to see these youngsters from the Netherlands do their thing.
Sadly I missed primary support Lines, as the most prevalent task for myself at the time was a coffee reconnaissance. However, the smooth rock and roll of Sydney groovers Group was all I needed to re-energise.
Rich in electric organ and feisty guitar solos, Group were, as always, a pleasure. Their strength was undoubtedly in the gently reverbed vocals of Jesse Lyleson, sounding like an aural shot of Wild Turkey American Honey. The blues wunderkinds went from crooning southern inspired country gems, to growling melancholy ballads, but were pleasing no matter the musical reincarnation.
Following were headliners DeWolff, who, despite heritage approximate to the Arctic Circle (at least compared to Australia), sounded as if they’d been raised in the hell fires of the Deep South. Their set had everything I enjoy; electric organ solos, obscure origin rock and roll, and cowboy outfits. Pablo van de Poel makes for a charismatic and energetic front man, and while fellow band mates were confined to their seated instruments he joyfully writhed across the stage during breakdowns and solos. Yet for all his showmanship his vocal work remained impressive, especially in the raucous of Yellow Rat Magic Blues.
An explanation into his raucous behaviour came with ten minutes left of their set, when van de Poel admitted he was still underage by Dutch legislation, and surely the joys of premature boozing influenced a little on their enthusiasm. Though the midweek crowd of Oxford Arts Factory were accommodating through drawn out outros and fifteen minute songs, my body had enough excitement for twenty-four hours, and I fell asleep on the mezzanine during their twenty-five minute encore.
The last thing I remember was a crashing rendition of single Don’t You Go Up The Sky which bought the house, and my fortitude, well and truly down.
Words and photos by Bianca Cornale. If you would like to catch DeWolff in action, the band still have a few gig dates penned for the East Coast of Australia. They will playing at the Newcastle Leagues Club on March 27th and The Great Northern Hotel on March 28. For more info check the bands website.
