The crowd at the recent Pink Mountaintops show at Upstairs was such a diverse mix of young, old, and in-between. I saw a couple in their 60s, people in their 20s and 30s, and the oddball standing alone at the side of the club holding a beer.
Everyone in the diverse crowd was here to see ex-Victorian Steve McBean and his Pink Mountaintops. The band’s driven, rhythmic guitar sound and melodic vocals make for a smooth listen. Each song unfolded very fluidly, which drew me in and actually allowed me to get lost in the music. That’s a pretty rare thing to find in the present world of music; the fact that this band lives close to home makes it even better.
As the performance progressed it became clear that Pink Mountaintops is able to drive a song forward with bold, percussive rhythm and also effortlessly resound sensuously smooth cascade-like sound waves. This dexterity in style made for an enjoyable listening experience and a talent which must be applauded.
Caught off guard by the cutting, beefed-up, double-stroke rhythm in the third song, I was gripped then held strong by the synthed drum rhythms backing it. This was followed by a vocal-oriented song… with the type of vocals you’d have if you sang with a freshly exposed raw wound.
Pink Mountaintops’ versatility and skill at composition was undeniable. The sound quality wasn’t great, but the music’s soul, and Pink Mountaintops’ integrity, shone through.
At the end of the night, Pink Mountaintops’ performance was by all means impressive. But impressive as it was, the 60-year-old couple standing behind me stole the show.