Support Acts

Seeing Martha's gig last week reminded me of previous support acts. Mostly it was because Dan Wilson, the main support act (former lead singer of Semisonic) behaved in a manner suggesting he didn't realise he was a support act. Had he been more savvy, he'd have realised that there are certain things support acts should not assume they can do- encouraging participation and singing, clapping and talking too much. The support act should play quickly, preferably be complementary to the main act (as well as complimentary) and then leave. This is especially the case if the main act is running late and the support act is in fact present when you were expecting Martha herself.

Anyway, there are some bands suited to supporting others. This doesn't mean that they should be doomed to support slots forever, merely that they know how to play the game and they do a great job. I thought I'd list a few of the best I've seen.

1. Kate Miller-Heidke (supporting Evermore at the Palais, June 2007).
The only complaint I'd make is that her set was far too brief. I lined up and met her afterwards and got her to sign a poster and an EP, and she seemed like a lovely person. Highlights of her set included crowd favourite Australian Idol and her new (at the time) single Words which made me desperate to hear her album Little Eve.

2. Skipping Girl Vinegar (supporting Something for Kate at the Corner Hotel, May 2007)
A great, lively little band with cheerful pop as their primary output. Left us all wanting more so we signed up for their mailing list. Too bad that when they finally graduated to their own headline act, they played an hour and a half long set at the Toff in Town...

3. Josh Pyke (supporting Eskimo Joe at the Forum, August 2006)
This was long before everyone else jumped on the Josh Pyke bandwagon and before he headlined his own Forum show last October as well. It was a tight little set with songs like Goldmines, Beg Your Pardon and of course Middle of the Hill, as well as Memories and Dust.