The Music kafe has a neat, small intimate setting, and it's around 4:30 when I sit down with around 30 other patrons enjoying a Sunday arvo drink while kicking back to solo artist Matt Powell. He does a variety of sweet covers ranging from Nirvana, Coldplay, Ladyhawk, unique take and smooth vocals, effortless range very easy listening!

As the 3-piece are setting up, their basic set up takes up the entire stage. I can't imagine a group like 6-piece Coast favourites The Floating Bridges fitting in here, which apparently they do with ease with their following leaving no room for anything but dancing.

Rohan kicks off the set with, as he put it... "some solo dirty blues" with an instant reaction from the crowd pulling out some toe tapping, some bench slapping and even a couple of cameras.
Few songs in and Cale and Rhys take to the stage to complete "Those Old Soles" and to round off the first set. Opening up with "All I Need" the drums and bass add an extra element to the music filling it out nicely and adding a groove tone. The decibels crank and the boys energy start on an upwards climb.

Ash Grunwald's "Take the Drop" goes down well as the boys find their groove, keeping things tight and having fun - patrons and staff alike are getting their groove on.

After a short break, the crowd had thinned out a little but opener, Ben Harper's "Ground on Down" sees a few more feet wander in from the wet streets of West End.

Usually seen as the Bridges front man, Cale still has a presence and commands attention on stage even with being perched behind the drums. The Fox on the 6 string bass beast pulls out some bullshit solos with his hands moving effortlessly over the 3-inch wide neck like a ravenous spider catching a feed. Roh's vocals punch out with power with the perfect mix of deep bluesy tones, raspy high notes and a raw bluesy growl thrown in from time to time. "Walking Home Blues" was the absolute standout of the set! (I wish I had caught it on film).

Individually, each member clearly is a well seasoned musician with ample experience and talent, together a well entertaining blues, reggae funk fusion, a force to be reckoned with and definitely a must see the next time you see them on the bill!

Emma