Startlefish: less folk, more rock (17 photos)

"My voice broke," exclaimed Craig West after an accidental girlie note escaped his lips.

"See! I hit puberty."

Fitting that this should happen on Monday December 18, as it was not only the official CD release of Startlefish's The Debtor's Heart, but it was also West's (eh-hem) 25th birthday.

A crowd of friends, family and fellow musicians gathered at Loplops Gallery-Lounge to hear Craig West, Shayne Wigglesworth and Ed Young perform their new release in order from beginning to end.

The live preview of the album was eagerly received by the attentive audience as it was treated to the new less-folk, more-rock sound of the band.

An acoustic guitar was used, however, during Judgemental You and Water From The Moon, two bittersweet Wigglesworth compositions.

As an added bonus, Startlefish finished the evening with an old favourite Always Been Me and a cover of The Police's Shadows in the Rain.

And despite their fear of performing two songs they've never done in front of a live audience and the fact their plans for a secret location fell through at the last moment, the night went off without a hitch.

Well, except for the whole puberty thing.

The undeniable talent of Startlefish, an overwhelming feeling of support that permeated the room and the flawless lighting and sound design of Crank Sound Distribution all culminated into an evening that illustrated just how special our local music scene really is.