Mountain Firework Company

Heartbreak, pain, loss, misery… the usual themes of ‘country’ music. But in the hands of this local outfit, the heavily ‘blues’ feel of the lyrics is somehow a cue for optimism; for celebration. MFC incorporate country, folk, bluegrass and general americana within their highly rhythmic sound, but refuse to become a parody of the country check-shirt and beard brigade (although drummer Grant Allardyce looks the real deal!). Instead, they paddle their own canoe, led by the exquisite guitar/banjo playing and heavily Irish accented and gruff singing of Gareth McGahan, who also pens all the songs. This, the launch for their third album ‘The Lonesome Losing Blues’ (a title that Hank Williams Jnr would be proud of) almost turns into a hoedown by the end, such is the sublime energy of the band who provide a steady, bouncy backbeat/rhythm while fiddler/mandolin player Mike Simmonds produces many a tasteful flourish. Melancholia has the ability to transform pessimism to optimism, and that’s what MFC does in abundance.

Komedia, 16 May 2012
Rating:
Jeff Hemmings