Holler. with your Library Voice

The Library Voices collective took to the stage, nearly outnumbering the sparse but enthusiastic crowd at the Ebar. There were a whack of instruments played by the assorted 8 members cramped onto the stage. The females held down the keys/synths/xylophone (alternating with an accordian and melodica), while the males played bass & drums, a couple electric guitars and notably a rented sax (since they recently had ten grand worth of equipment ripped off). It seemed that every member kept a tambo close at hand too. Self-proclaimed "pop as fuck" they layered on the sounds to make joyous and full-bodied pop tunes one after another. Noting the intimacy of the small crowd they slowed things down and played a lovely quieter number about the Book of Love. The entire Hunting Ghosts EP was played, including the R3 fave, Step Off the Map and Float which was excellent. During the final track the obscenely tall bass player picked up a drum and held it in the body slam position above his head while the short-in-stature, long-in-drumstick drummer banged away on the drum whilst standing on an amp. Spectacular!

Up next were the 4-piece outfit known as Hollerado, from (rhymes with) Quebec. They played some gritty rock'n'roll with a couple electric guitar riffs buzzing over deep bass lines and hard-hitting percussion. This was the standard for all but their regular-rotation R3 single, On My Own, which was more slow and steady. Banter was rather amusing as they pointed out the celebrities in attendance that included a member of The Arkells and the dude from the back of the $5 bill (the skater. I know, I was hoping for Sir Wilfred too!). All these people took in a solid rawk show.