Live Review: Josh Pyke, Jackson McLaren

Kicking off a night of musical storytelling was the young and delightful Jackson McLaren. While not well-known among concert-goers his polished performance revealed a seasoned singer-songwriter whose lyrics and melodies belie his years. With delicate and intricate songs such as A Whole Day Nearer, he provided the crowd with a reason to Google search his name.
Josh Pyke showed he is as punctual as he is charismatic by taking the stage right on time so as not to leave his Sydney faithful waiting any longer than necessary. The Factory Theatre was abuzz with delight at the night beginning with the upbeat folk melody of Memories & Dust, before Pyke went on to deliver more from his previous albums and even a Facebook fan request, Silver.
Needing no assistance, other than the loop pedal, Pyke highlighted his entire catalogue and even made his first confession of plagiarism, taking an idea from the back of a cassette tape – but that's okay, because “cassettes are dead, man”.   
Despite repeated catcalls from eager fans to hear Middle Of The Hill, Pyke continued to delve further into his creative repertoire, flawlessly changing from delicately light tracks to lyrically tight and fast favourites, including a cover of The Jezabels' chart-topper, Endless Summer. Fans needn't have worried, for Pyke played his breakthrough single only moments later and Sydneysiders were ecstatic.
Admitting that he was returning for a “legendary” encore, Pyke encouraged the crowd to cheer, clap and invent songs of adoration in order to get him back on stage. He returned to rapturous applause, before silencing the crowd with his beautiful rendition of Love Lies and proving that this local powerhouse is just too damn good.