Weekly Live Music Review is a regular online feature where Guangzhou-based musician Kirby Carney reviews a live performance in the PRD.
Last Thursday, I went to see Three Lines perform their regular gig at McCawley's Irish Pub. Usually they are a three-piece band with Jake on drums, Christian as vocalist and guitarist and Jem as vocalist. Unfortunately, the wonderful Jem was not there that night, but she had a replacement more than worthy to jump right in: Soul Society’s Raifi, who works just about everywhere in Guangzhou.
Speaking to the band pre-gig, I learned each of the boys has a distinct personality. Christian doesn’t know how to not be happy – he radiates positivity and is practically married to music so there’s no need to sign a prenuptial agreement. Jake is cool, calm and collected. He doesn’t say much but everybody knows who this guy is. Raifi is the too-cool-for-school semi-joker of the band. I say that because he makes music look too easy while constantly joking around.
All of the musicians are hard working and have become extremely talented in the process. Styled baseball caps and fashionable clothes are all the range here. High octave voices, angelic harmonies, big beats and small snippets of pop musical mastery are on full showcase tonight (and all nights they perform, bet your first born on that).
Jake’s subtle drumming is varied, complex and at no point overbearing on Raifi and Christian’s melodic vocals. Both musicians are lead instrumentalists but there is no ego to be seen here – each enjoys the spotlight on their respective instruments.
Jake alternates between mellow finger picking and light strumming to add a soothing layer to the already well-oiled hovercraft that is Three Lines, who are collectively floating on pop cloud nine. These boys are as detailed as the encyclopedia of Oxford: they have little glimpses of gold that you appreciate and know they’re applauded for the pure genius of it. Raifi’s happy-major, for example, inspired by Jimmy Eat World, Jake’s hybrid hip-hop drumming, Raifi’s angelic out-of-body skyscraper-high notes and Christian’s amazing harmonies all come together at just the right time.
These guys bring a performance of passion and technical mastery. If you knew how good these boys are, you’d take your hat off straight away – if you weren’t too busy begging for an encore, that is.
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