It's that sound that's evolved from a national calling card to an international beacon of a roots revival.
The most interesting thing about seeing them live, at least from a purist’s perspective, is seeing how the Melbourne outfit’s dedication to analogue recording methods shapes everything from their mic placement to their performance style.
At the heart of their sound sits Josh Teskey’s soul-drenched vocals, which pull from the gritty playbook of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke without falling into mere imitation. The band has to translate those classic ribbon mic recordings to the live environment while still retaining that coveted old-school grit. It is an absolute testament to their sound team that their performance at A Day On The Green was able to capture the very essence of The Teskey Brothers…and then some.
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Sam Teskey’s guitar work also leans heavily on a ’60s setup, favouring tube amplifiers and minimal effects to achieve clean tones that crunch up organically when driven. The rhythm section of Brendon Love (bass) and Liam Gough (drums) then provides that crucial foundation.
Their evolution from their 2017 debut Half Mile Harvest largely mirrors their measured rise to massive international success. They’ve expanded their sonic palette, incorporating more sophisticated brass arrangements and horn sections, that natural bleed between instruments.
So that’s The Teskey Brothers, in all their live glory, but a review of them at ADOTG also has to pay tribute to the sustained wonder of Band of Horses. They are so much more than just The Funeral – which is awkwardly fitting, given fans were worried about the band’s demise soon after their last Australian tour.
Band of Horses sneak up on you a bit, thanks to Ben Bridwell’s versatile ability to build soft yet distinctive vocals into a crescendo of raw emotion. In Geelong, their songs pushed beyond the polished nature of their recordings into more vulnerable territory. His signature reverb-drenched delivery fills venues of any size, particularly during anthemic moments in songs like The Funeral, but also in their brave choice to end the set on The General Specific.
Ultimately, ADOTG delivered an utterly exceptional support lineup. CMAT, Sierra Ferrell and Charlie Needs Braces are all sensational artists in their own right that deliver – more than anything else – incredibly fun sets. They just beam up on stage, and you get the feeling these sets are incredibly special – even for Sierra, who’s obviously a major international alt-country draw in her own right.
These three really lit up the afternoon, setting a tone that continued into Band of Horses, an enraptured evening in one of the most beautiful concert venues in Australia…no, the world.
Get tickets to see upcoming performances by Leon Bridges and The Script at A Day On The Green in Geelong here.