Concrete Playground

Oh Mercy are one of the crop of Australian bands that are indulging their more sensitive side, leaving the angular jaunts and sweat for harmonicas and acoustics, not afraid to demand attention for their lyrics rather than their volume. I'm thinking of bands like The Panics or The Middle East, and solo artists like Whitley and even the young Aus-Idol-turned-credible-folkey Lisa Mitchell with whom the Melbourne youngsters have just been touring with.

The two songwriters in the band, Alexander Gow and Thom Savage, barely scrape 20 years old, but with a musical pedigree that has them plucking their band name from a 1989 Bob Dylan album, they pen words and melodies that stick in your head and have demanded the band some much deserved attention, including tours with Ben Kweller and Little Birdy and spots on the Big Day Out and Come Together festivals.

They have released two EP's, the latest one with the witty yet juvenile pun-title In The Nude For Love. This tour sees them spruiking their debut long player Priveleged Woes. The all opera-jazz-singing and piano-shredding pop dynamo Megan Washington and her band are supporting. Get along for sweet melodies, heartfelt tunes and not-too-sore an ear.