Jess McAvoy

Jess McAvoy

Saturday October 10th
Southern Cross Train Staion.

She should have been playing to a packed crowd at the adjacent Etihad Stadum, but instead Jess humbly played Southern Cross station to a mix of interested and dis-interested commuters. I believe I was the only one there who actually travelled deliberately to see her.

Mid-way through her set she played the song Great Wave, for the second time, as the coffee-clutching crowd had undergone a total team substitution. "I'm going to play this song again since you're all new in the last 15 minutes". Chuckling, Jess said. "Thanks for laughing as I'm generally the only one that thinks I'm funny".

The Perth-raised, Toronto-bound Melbournite was playing as part of the free Melbourne Music Fest, despite having entertained packed venues in the city over the last few years. Paying or non-paying patrons - it doesn't affect Jess's infectious smile and blemish-less performance. Off her latest effort, Jess played Sailor and Dusk, the latter being the premise for her whole record as she rides the great wave of emotion that comes with sitting still and not talking during her 'favourite time of day'. Always sounding incredible in an acoustic setting where the lack of an electric guitar ameliorated her vocals, there was nowhere for the un-converted to hide, as a 30-strong crowd horse-shoed around her.

Jess sold CD's, signed CD's and should do nothing else with her life than make more CDs.

5 woos out of 5.