Two Minute Puzzle was started as a studio project by Patrick McCay and Andrew Winer in 2010. Luckily they have recently taken to performing live with Patrick and Andrew forming the base of the band, with the addition of Jean Labuschagne of Stepdog fame on drums as well as including a steady fluid stream of guest artists such as Gazelle, Jeremy Loops and Inge Beckman.
Billy Idol-sneer-rival Donny Truter of band Taleswopper opened up the live performance part of the evening for their launch with a selection of heartfelt acoustic songs. This was followed by Sanni Fox and band Machineri. I like Machineri's brand of sultry blues, but after seeing them a few times before I've become increasingly frustrated by Sanni's lack of clear diction. Seriously, I can't hear the bleep what that girl is singing about. Luckily, SA song siren Inge Beckmann joined her for a tune and filled in the blanks left by Sanni's lack of enunciation. A really great compo, all in all.
After the second screening of Two Minutes Puzzle first music vid (check it here), they took to the modest stage with the help from their musical friendies: Jeremy Loops, Inge Beckmann and Wayne Joshua of MerseyState. Having only performed live something like six times before, Two Minute Puzzle were wonderfully on point sonically and looked comfortably at home on stage.
Realised at the launch, and now again while listening to their EP, the one thing I appreciate most about the band is their variety in sound. Patrick McCay has a vocal range as wide as the Amazon and just as dangerous; one minute singing a humourous joke song about vampires and Darth Vader, the next a soulful serious love song, and then suddenly sneaking in a pretty instrumental little number. They keep you on your (dancing) toes throughout.
Keep an eye and ear out for these three, I'm sure we will be hearing great things from and about them in the future.
www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Minute-Puzzle
http://soundcloud.com/two-minute-puzzle
