Having been around for awhile, it’s good to see Melbourne-based four-piece blues outfit The Groves finally beginning to make inroads into Australia’s thriving music scene. With a history that begins back in their high school days, the group’s self-titled debut EP launched at Revolver this weekend was an all-out aural assault from a group that shows much promise.
As bassist Leigh Macdonald conceded during the evening, the group’s debut EP has been a long time coming – but now that it’s here, it’s clear that the Groves are very much maturing into a successful, surprising act to contend with in Melbourne. Bringing a set largely comprised of material from the EP launched on the evening, months spent rehearsing and recording, mixing and mastering the self-titled EP in vocalist Antoni Riccardi’s home studio with the assistance of Stevie Mayo have come to fruition with a remarkably self-assured sound. Taking to the stage to a reasonably packed-out front room at Revolver, the group spent the following hour tearing through a well-paced and groove-laden performance.
