The Junes @ The Lomond - April 17th 2010

Last night, high-spirited country/glam/gospel band 'The Junes' played to a full house at The Lomond Hotel, East Brunswick. Suzannah Espie was composed and sultry in black lace, black neck-tie and cropped copper curls, her voice tonal & lilting under a steady gaze and dazzling smile; Gleny Rae Virus, a bright, fiery blond in red cowgirl boots and black tassels, stood centre stage whipping the crowd into line with a sharp tongue and wild grin, accordion and fiddle at her feet; Sarah Carroll swayed, willowy and elegant in a floral dress, guitar slung across her hips, porcelain skin, dark hair, eyes twinkling - her face an ever shifting beam of light. They kept the 100+ audience grinning bashfully from the shadows, beers forgotten in limp hands, as we stared mesmerised into the eyes of these heart-thumping sirens of song. Yes, I am certain - that the slow-dance seduction of love song 'Blue Baby' (see video above) evoked the poor sailor's fated crash into the unforgiving rocks of the sirens of the sea. Performance is myth: entertainment and archetype and connection. The Junes are brilliant at it.

Of course this makes it sound like the band consists entirely of women - and it's hard not to be swept up in the charisma of these three lady super-stars given their popular musical histories (GIT, Gleny Rae Virus & her Tamworth Playboys) - but in fact the gig would have been a different experience all together if it weren't for the incredible energy and drive (and appropriately sheepish maleness) of the dynamic rhythm section (Dougie Bull - Bullfiddle and Chris Tabone - drums and percussion).

Providing fuel for the women's onstage banter, with his dreamily painted kick-drum and straw hat, Chris Tabone 'Diego' sparked this moniker from Gleny Rae: "The Little Man in the Boat". Punctuated by: "And for the astute members of the audience you'll understand that's a euphemism" (extended laughter). After some rumbling from the crowd and the sudden murmur of a bemused sounding "clitoris?", Gleny Rae, grinning, replied: "I meant: the only drummer in bluegrass." Of course!

It is hard to beat the infectious energy, humour and glamour of these women; they are wonderful entertainers and musicians. Perhaps, at times, the band were so rocking (and loud) that the rich tones, great lyrics and harmonic subtleties were lost in the muddle - which is a shame as these women write and sing beautifully. Old GIT favourite "Car Outside the Bar" was an instant hit. So, to keep the myths alive and thriving, we must pay heed: wild things happen when women get together in kitchens to sing. Sailors beware x x

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The Junes will be launcing their latest CD at the Belly Union Bar @ Trades Hall on June 12th with Andy Baylor. For more information, to buy a CD, or listen to songs - check them out at www.myspace.com/thejunestunes

Video footage of song 'Hopeless' below (apologies for the poor sound quality - it's the digital Kmart-camera. Jess has suggested I make a cardboard box model of a 'real' camera and stick the digital one in a hole at the end so at least I can look half-professional) :) H