Andy Bull at the Vanguard, April 20^th.

You get the feeling that the people clustered on the top floor of Newtown’s Vanguard, are die hard fans of the young man advertised at the door. They are, after all, here three hours early and occupying the very front row. They will not move until the very last song at 11pm and will shout and sing their way through the entire performance, along with the rest of the packed out crowd. This guy hasn’t even released a single and most of the crowd know every lyric. But it has to be said, after five years of playing shows around Sydney, Melbourne and even one in New York City, Bull deserves these die hard fans.

Lovers Electric (Sydney based duo, Eden and David), my new obsession, kicked off the proceedings on Sunday night with a tiny red toy piano and a lot of cute sass. Yes, sass. And long, lean limbs. If music doesn’t work out for these two, I am sure there is a catwalk out there that needs their legs. The lead singer sounds like what you’d imagine the love child of Abbie Dobson and the lead singer of the Cardigans would sound like. Eden’s voice is rich, and goosebump inducing, particularly on tracks like Is it Over in which somehow amidst the delicious electro-pop, she makes you stand still and listen to her pain. Do yourself a favour; head to www.loverselectic.com and check out In Love, Closer, Is it Over and the interminably catchy Start Again.

And so Andy Bull and his band took to the stage. The die-hard fans inched forward on their seats, a glint in their eyes. Going to one of his gigs, you can’t help but wonder if a mini-star has ascended without your knowing. At 23, Andy Bull has more live credence than many platinum selling Australian artists, gathering fans from around Australia to New York City, where he also mixed parts of his album in the legendary Electric Lady Studios. He has opened for Joss Stone not once but twice- the second time by personal invitation and, after returning from a recording stint in New York, he was signed to Island Records Australia. Bottom line, Andy Bull was creating buzz long before someone was smart enough to sign him.

With a trio of horn players behind him, Bull opened with the kind of song destined for Australian radio- a song for females everywhere to swoon and cry to, simultaneously. April Still May, which is up for contention as the first single, will usher in a new era in female obsession. I am torn between being desperate for the rest of the world to hear this song, and for it to be my own little secret. But there is no doubt the rest of the world is going to hear this song and they’re going to want more of it. An artist like this has been a long time coming.

Andy Bull has a voice of an angel with a dirty face (always time for a Sugababes reference). It’s knowing and pure at the same time, beautiful and rough by turns, like spun sugar with a sarsaparilla chaser. You’re not sure whether you should be seduced by him, commiserate with him or join him in taking over the world. The true strength and resonance of his voice comes across on the slower songs and lead to people yelling out things like ‘oh Andy you’re so dreamy …’ which, somehow, segues into The Sum of my Dreams. Cue unanimous sigh.

His performance patter is finely honed and by about the second song, he has the audience eating out of his hand. He introduces the first break up song he ever wrote as ‘You Don’t Ever Call … you bitch’ with the timing of a very smooth, butter-voiced stand up comedian. In fact, he’s almost too smooth for his own good, it’s probably a good thing his appearance is slightly (and oh so artistically) mussed - it adds a bit of crunch to the mix.

His single is set for release in May and the album due out July – although the single is undecided and the album unnamed. Nothing wrong with a bit of mystery wrapped in an enigma. In choosing the first single it seems he is spoiled for choice. Lady Liberty is April Still May’s main competitor (in my mind, anyway) in the singles stakes. And it’s songs like these that show Bull for what he is – one of the best songwriters this country has on offer. From Young Man- the oldest song of the set, written when he was 19, to the new kid on the block- Sugar in the Water,  which is as sweet as the voice that sings it, there is no shortage of beautiful music to choose from.

Forget April, come May, this star is going to shoot through the roof.

www.myspace.com/andybull