Great Gable - “Sidewalk”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 10

Pairs Well With…Phoenix, Glass Animals, Foster the People

Six years past their debut EP GG, Great Gable sound tight and full on latest record On the Wall in the Morning Light. Upbeat and affirming, Great Gable’s songs go big in all aspects, loaded with hooks in both verse and chorus. The Australian band holds a standard rock lineup - guitars/keys/bass/drums - though note that melodies are coming from all corners with pop-centric purpose. Sometimes it’s nice to hear everything exactly where it should be, a hallmark of Great Gable’s music. Eschewing experimentation for perfect production and making the most of each song, there’s something nostalgic in their just-write-good-music approach. Expect their US visit with SXSW to keep the same pattern translated to the live stage, a band that will sound even more mature surrounded by emerging artists searching for their sound. (Kevin McStravick)