Fresh from touring abroad, Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders return to Sydney to shake off the rust in style – as alluring and elusive as ever.
As far as local enigmas go, they don’t get much more alluring than Jack Ladder. The guy is as elusive as ever upon the release of latest single Susan; admittedly though, this time he’s traded the Blue Mountains for distant shores.
Earlier this year saw him and his band, The Dreamlanders, supporting the equally captivating Weyes Blood, and embarking on their own headline tour, across Europe and the UK. Their recent shows in Sydney and Melbourne marked their first back at home in a while and a chance for them to “shake off some rust,” as Jack himself admits.
In Sydney, their spot at Oxford Art Factory didn’t quite sell out, but was cosily packed, and for everyone there, couldn’t have come sooner. Opening with some rustic vibes was Melbourne singer / songwriter, Emma Russack, with her lo-fi, Sebadoh steeze.
Her tales of being missed at parties and saving for a house one day enchanted the burgeoning crowd, but her witty on-stage banter certainly brought her performance home.
Jack and the gang strolled out shortly after for the main event and proceeded to dislodge some of that rust. Come On Back This Way and electro chill number Her Hands set the mood and some mild moshing ensued from some overly enthusiastic fans.
There was a little back and forth chatter between the audience and the frontman in his deep trademark baritone; otherwise, though, he was fairly reserved. None of that matters of course when the band rips out Ladder’s favourite love song I Love Your Mind in all of it’s raw glory. It was pure bliss.
It’s been too long between drinks guys, Sydney loves you.
[Photos by Dani Hansen]
