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MICK THOMAS & THE SURE THING, OH SUSANNA
The Troubadour: Dec. 13, 2007

A solid crowd has accumulated in the beautiful intimacy of The Troubadour as Canadian songstress Oh Susanna wanders onto stage with her acoustic guitar and eases into 'Pretty FaceÕ; the opening track from her new album Short Stories. Her beautiful voice carries the melodies of her songs superbly, the narratives of tunes like 'Miss Liberty' clearly striking a chord with the attentive audience. Those in attendance who weren't paying attention beforehand quickly change their tune when the crowd's hero Mick Thomas strolls onto stage to join her on mandolin for 'Pretty PennyÕ, and this interest doesn't wane as Thomas gives way to the rest of The Sure Thing who accompany Oh Susanna (aka Suzie Ungerleider) for the rest of her beautiful and poignant set. A rousing finale is inevitable as Thomas rejoins proceedings, and the full band run through a wonderful version of 'Down By The Quarry'.

After a short break Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing reappear to a fittingly rousing welcome and kick into 'Forgot She Was Beautiful' from recent opus Paddock Buddy, and it's clear that this album has been well-received as the well-lubricated crowd sing along with gusto. Yet when the opening chords of Weddings, Parties, Anything's 'Monday's Experts' - both Thomas and drummer Michael Barclay from The Sure Thing are alumni of that fine band - ring out, the mass really gets excited. And this formula proves to be the template favoured throughout the night: faithful versions of Weddos classics such as 'She Works' and 'House Of Ghosts' are liberally interspersed between Sure Thing tunes such as 'You Remind Me', 'The Lonely Goth' and 'Coat Of PaintÕ, meaning that there is literally something on offer for fans of all vintages and persuasions: Guitarist Craig Pilkington spices things up when he plays a superb trumpet solo during 'Father's DayÕ, and then segues that into the intro of 'Our SunshineÕ, giving the tune a Calexico~esque vibe that works perfectly.

Over time the Sure Thing have morphed into a fine band in their own right, holding the crowd in the palm of their collective hands as they run through oldies such as 'Hug My Back' and 'The Cap Me Granda WoreÕ. But, as always, it's Thomas that the crowd are here to see, and he's in fine form as he closes out the set with a rousing sing along version of Guy Clark's 'Come From The HeartÕ; and a beautifully pain-wracked and emotive reading of his own 'Halfway Up The Hill'.

The crowd know that proceedings are far from over, however, and they create a suitably raucous noise until Thomas appears in solo mode and offers a beautiful solo rendition of 'Step In, Step Out', before being rejoined by the band and finishing with 'Rain In My Heart' and the ode to his guitar, 'Tommy Didn't Want YouÕ. A Weddos reunion may be just around the corner, but judging by the form displayed tonight by one of Australia's finest musos, such an exercise in nostalgia is an indulgence rather than a necessity.

STEVE BELL


TIME OFF (Brisbane, Australia)