Josh Pyke

It’s hard to put a finger on what makes Australian artist Josh Pyke so different from all the other generic singer-songwriters out there. Despite the obligatory folk guitars and gentle vocals, somehow his music manages to feel more than the sum of its parts. Whether it’s his relaxed harmonies or quirky lyrics, Josh Pyke is beginning to draw plenty of attention on these shores. He may currently have a low profile over here, but the Borderline was packed for this show.

Kicking off the set with live violins, the room was soon alive with handclaps on 'Middle of the Hill’, before settling down into a more mellow tone. Despite showcasing plenty of new material, every song seemed to resonate with the crowd. The audience left humming happily to themselves, wandering what it was that made Josh Pyke stand out so distinctly from the last singer-songwriter they went to see.

Photo: Julene Harrison