Live Review: Wagons, Eagle & The Wolf, Lisa Caruso

Lisa Caruso kicked things off, her brand of alt-country sitting somewhere in between Caitlin Rose and Cat Power. Aptly backed by her band, the set was delightfully restrained, featuring excellent songs, Shake Baby Shake and A Holiday.

Second support Eagle & The Wolf played a stripped-backed set that revolved around Sarah Humphreys' powerful voice, Kris Morris' deft Resonator-playing and the obvious chemistry between the two artists.

For 20 years, Wagons, led by frontman and chief songwriter Henry Wagons, have been dishing out their version of Australiana country-rock, and tonight they were here to launch their first album in five years, Songs From The Aftermath. 

The band's charismatic leader was having as much fun as the sizeable crowd who had come on cheer on the veterans and soak up the new tunes, such as Take Me To Your Leader, Old Fashioned Nights and Cockroach, in among old favourites from albums past. 

Henry Wagons had a heap of stories and observations to share after two decades together, including one about drummer Si “Philanthropist” Francis and a Vegas coke dealer named “Good”. He also introduced a couple up the front who had flown from North America to follow the band on tour, and flogged a one-off pair of size nine Wagons shoes – supposedly handmade by Philanthropist – to raise funds for mental health charity Beyond Blue. 

The standout track of the night was single Keep On Coming Back. The response from the Sydney crowd overall was a clear indicator that Wagons are welcome here any time.