A Brief History…

Some live recordings seem to capture the energy of performance better than others. This two-disc set, the latest offering from Australia’s The Waifs, succeeds wonderfully in producing the feeling of being there. The band encourages audience interaction with sing-a-longs, and a little banter, thus creating an intimate setting. The main singers, sisters Vikki and Donna Simpson, both women with distinct voices, trade the lead vocals in between singing lovely harmonies with each other. Driving harmonica is omnipresent (if there is weakness in their offerings, this is it), but the music though is lively and folksy, exhibiting undertones of rock, bluegrass and blues. Lyrics tell stories of longing, adventure, being on the road, and love with a quirkiness bands from the British Commonwealth often have. “The Waitress” exhibits this charming naïveté with the story of moving to the big city: “Everyone I meet don’t want to know my name/ they want to know what I do for a living.”