Thirsty Merc touched down in Canberra for their fifteenth stop on their Australian tour. Choosing the Southern Cross Club as their venue fans were guaranteed an intimate and entertaining night.

Performing around Australia to release their third studio album, ‘Mousetrap Heart’, there was no signs of any weariness from the band who originated in Dubbo.

Before Thirsty Merc rose to the stage it was the turn of Australian pop/rock outfit, Porcelain. Their set was a slow-moving set, and one that did little to light the imagination’s of the crowd.

I could only presume that lead singer Lo Roberts was a fan of irony, with the song ‘F*&^ the Radio’ being a blatant attempt to write a song that would be played on the radio. The band were not woeful, but they have a lot of work to do before rising above the ‘support-act’ stage.

After the underwhelming support act, lead-singer Rai Thistlethwayte rose to the stage amid the roars of the crowd. It did not take long for Thirsty Merc to stamp their presence on the evening, opening with their hit song ‘In The Summertime’.

As the set progressed the crowd became increasingly involved, with Thistlethwayte having no issues with engaging in some friendly crowd banter.

One of the early highlights in the set was the riff driven ‘She’s My Brother’ from the 2007 ‘Sideshows’ album. The song proved why Thirsty Merc are still one of the most under-rated live bands in Australia. Combining Thistlethwayte’s blistering piano solo, the addictive energy of the band, and the call and response with the crowd, it was the perfect example of Thirsty Merc’s shows.

The Southern Cross Club’s ‘Top of The Cross’ room was the perfect venue for the band’s vibe. It was an intimate setting that saw songs like their new hit song ‘Mousetrap Heart’ received perfectly by the sweaty and enthralled jumping bodies.

It was a fantastic performance by the band, and finished off by their hit tune ‘Someday, Someday’. The night did not end after their final song either, with the whole band signing autographs in the foyer of the Southern Cross Club.

So if you missed them at the Southern Cross, do not make the same mistake again when Thirsty Merc return to Canberra.