Downhills Home

The sweet smell of success has literally been following Melbourne 5 piece Downhills Home ever since their formation in the summer of 2006, come last Saturday’s Minor Bird’s album launch it was the musical equivalent to catnip and mink oil for Melbournites everywhere.

It’s been some time since I’ve seen a supporting cast as fine as the one that graced the stage that evening, Jordie Lane and Liz Stringer may be impressive enough alone, but with Stringer’s lilting vocals, accompanied by an uncharacteristically delicate banjo and Lane’s countrified guitar stylings, together they proved to be positively breathtaking.

Next up The Vandas wasted no time belting out some typically hypnotic rock, had there been less posing and larking on stage I may have found their set slightly more engaging, but 20 minutes in and I made for the bar.

When the Downhills Home lads finally made their way to the stage 25 minutes later, it became painfully apparent that I’d underestimated their appeal, as I found myself elbowing and clambering my way back to the front.

Leaping into Jigsaw, Downhills Home made it abundantly clear what all the fuss was about; a brilliant blend of late 70’s Americana, Alt Country and Bluesy Folk, from start to sweeping finish their performance was nothing shy of intoxicating. Front man Sean McMahon’s throaty vocals were tempered beautifully by fellow songwriter Micheal Hubbard’s harmonies, brother Brendan McMahon’s slight of hand on the keyboard recalling the luminaries of the 70’s finger smiths.

In leiu of Jen Cloher, Laura Jean took up guest vocals on The Body You Left Behind, then spoiling the audience by accompanying the band on the recorder to Only Badly. But although loaded with moments of rare beauty, it was Micheal Hubbard’s demonstration of finesse on the pedal steel that eventually left the audience quietly overwhelmed. For those of you who saw fit to forgo Saturdays festivities, expecting an atypical launch with a band too inebriated to pull off a solid set, take a moment to shed a tear; you missed one of the best bashes this year.

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