Brisbane’s West End is an extraordinary melting pot of the past and the present, the local and the extrinsic. From exotic teahouses to the contemporary clubs, this suburb is a prime example of cultural diversity. Amidst this eclectic display of bars and bookshops lies an unassuming haunt aptly named ‘The Music Kafe’. It is modest places like this where great bands are born.
With a name derived from an obscure Seinfeld reference, The Mackinaw Peaches were the main attraction for many patrons in attendance. Coming from Ipswich, with friends and fans in tow, it was an atmosphere of familiarity and friendliness as they conversed with the audience between and during shows. “We sound a lot different from the music we listen to,” Guitarist Flynn Rush commented, “but we’re a sort of modern folk.”
“The most obvious influences of our group would be Angus and Julia Stone,” Flynn continued, “as well as older stuff like Simon and Garfunkel and Bob Dylan.” Covers were present and numerous, ranging from a beautiful version of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ to the hand-clapping vitality of ‘The Dog Days are Over’ by Florence and the Machine. Even Mumford and Sons ‘Little Lion Man’ got couples away from their table and dancing on the slightly claustrophobic floor.
But it was their two MySpace hits which stole the show and captured the listener’s hearts. ‘Fix Me’ began with gentle acoustic plucking, followed by the substantial vocals of Jemma Farley as she despondently croons “You are the poison; you are my disease”. The poetic, enigmatic lines continued with the beautiful ‘Alone’, a deeply layered song with interweaving harmonies gradually building in lyrical and vocal intensity.
Throughout the night, the band produced evocative and soothing melodies that belied their lack of experience. It was a poignant, intimate performance, and one which penetrated every corner of the densely crowded cafe. As said by a relatively new fan “They have a very mature sound for a young band, I mean you can see that they’re just a bunch of kids but there’s still a level of maturity, which makes it just a bit easier to listen too.”
