Live Review: Tiny Little Houses

The members of Tiny Little Houses mingle with the crowd before they start their set. Their homecoming gig for the Milo Tin tour is sold out and what better way to spend the final show of the tour than with a bunch of hometown supporters? Frontman Caleb Karvountzis later mentions his mother is in the crowd and undoubtedly there are scores of family and friends here to celebrate the return of this humble folk band.

Karvountzis' mic isn't working through the majority of the first song, which triggers a number of angry remarks thrown the sound engineer's way. Once the microphone is turned on, all anguish disappears in a loud cheer as Karvountzis' breathy vocals spring to life to deliver the band's melancholic, existential lyrics. On his right, guitarist Sean Mullins looks like he belongs in a rock band as his curtain of hair sways to the beat. Mullins occasionally pushes his guitar neck to the sky, like some sort of salute to the music gods. The guitarist's energy is balanced out by the collected demeanor of bassist Al Yamin. In the back, a full mop of ginger hair covers the face of drummer Clancy Bond, who bears a striking resemblance to Cousin Itt. His cascading ride cymbal rhythms break through the thick wall of phased guitar distortion, thanks to the small bandroom's echo.

The lo-fi folk noise captured in this band's recordings goes down a more energetic route through their performance. Embedded with stadium guitar interludes — and a very impressive sharp snare — the quartet manages to present a sound just off the brink of indie-rock. Soon we're all nodding our heads to the rhythm; the audience now a collection of bobble heads. Some people vibe some interpretive dance, but nothing too vigorous. "This song might have been on the radios — or on the FMs," Mullins announces, before picking out the riff of their second last song Easy. The track explores that all-too-familiar feeling of being friendzoned and we're encouraged to sing along: "'Cause you and I are only ever gonna be friends/Oh, it's not hell but it's not easy." The finish of their set is followed by a snappy pack-up. Hopefully they can get some good shut-eye before their set at Groovin The Moo tomorrow.