Oscar + Martin - “Do The Right Thing”
I love coming across talented young musicians, and one of my favourite ways to do that is to turn up early for gigs and watch the support acts. I have a lot of respect for support acts, especially in Melbourne. I don’t like the reputation this city has, but unfortunately it’s true - Melbourne crowds need to be won over. Melburnians will sidle up to front row, then proceed to have obnoxiously loud conversations during the supports, usually during the quietest, most sentimental numbers. Some say it’s about making musicians “earn their stripes”. I think it’s just plain rude.
Which brings me to Oscar + Martin. These guys took the stage in support of Gotye, at the Forum in September. They took their positions, looking a little nervous in front of a chatty crowd. They began playing, and suddenly the chit chat died down. My mates and I were about four rows from the front, with heaps of die hard Gotye fans surrounding. To be a big-time Gotye fan is to really appreciate quality musicianship. Oscar + Martin have that in spades, which was quickly recognised by all around us. People were turning to their friends, to strangers standing nearby, trying to figure out who these guys were.
“Who are you?” shouted one concertgoer to the boys, taking a break in between songs; and then, “…you’re awesome!” The lady behind me whipped out her iPhone and looked it up; more than a few of us leaned in to listen as she told her friends “Oscar + Martin! They’re really good, aren’t they?” My memory is of each song coming with a new surprise, from Oscar’s sweet falsetto, to the clever layering of live and sampled percussion, and even an impromptu freestyle rap when technical issues forced an on-stage change to their set list.
Though they walked on stage with few taking notice of them, they finished their set to rapturous applause. Several people even started an “encore” chant in the uncommon hope that the support act would return for another go around.
