Leah Miche and The Regular Hunters

Despite the unseasonable rain preventing the Miche Suite taking advantage of the outdoor stage at North Fremantle’s Railway Hotel, a dedicated crowd turned out in numbers to see the trio launch their debut Where My Nature Lays EP. Following rousing sets by Matt Cal and Mo Wilson & The Drivers, the trio took the stage with additional violin and cello to recreate the fuller arrangements of their honest roots based tracks. Throughout the night extra musicians would add strings, guitars, keys, didgeridoo and harmonica to build out the arrangements.


What remained constant, no matter how many musicians were on stage, was the integrity and earnest quality of Leah Miche’s songs. The phrasing, narratives and construction of the tunes never wavered from the honesty in Miche’s voice as it worked over the faultless rhythm section of bassist Sarah Clare and drummer Mat Marsh.


To simply class the trio as a roots act, however wide ranging that label can be, would be a mistake. The trio can’t be classified like that; their music is too far ranging for that. Their rearrangement of The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Suck My Kiss into a slow dirty rock song is as good a demonstration as any. The riff play on Sanderson’s Sons, the play between the guitar and bass on the title track, the crescendo on If I Leave all push the roots label past the folk / reggae blend usually associated with the tag. A rousing encore treated the crowd to a further example of the band’s depth and range as they were joined by all musicians, filling the stage for a triumphant finale. For those who weren’t already keen followers of the band from their numerous residencies in the last twelve months there were a few more eyes and ears opened at the end of the launch. Seeing just where their nature grows from this point is sure to be just as entertaining as the launch.

.. - Jason Kenny - Drum Media

Miche Suite takes the stage showcasing a six-member cast of musicians that appeared as guests on the group's debut EP Where My Nature Lays. Front woman Leah Miche promptly wrenches the focus from the band's slick looking roster and launches into the catchy Stick in the Mud. It's all there: well-placed surges of blues harp, electric cello and violin; luring the crowd towards the stage and enhancing Miche's impassioned, melodious vocals. Mat Marsh's intricate drumbeats collide with Sarah Clare's tight upright electric bass work and Miche's acoustic guitar manoeuvring. Not one foot in the venue is left untapped.

That foot-tapping continues with an equally upbeat love jig If I Leave, featuring passionate vocals, swelling strings and body-rocking breakout runs that continue to fire up an appreciative crowd. "Any nerves we had felt before the set are gone," Leah jokes, inviting Mo Wilson onto the stage. He accompanies the band through the jazzy, feel-good Sanderson Sons.

From then on it's all about diversity. Silly Man casts a jilted, bluesy feel over the room, before Love Not Yet gets the dance floor swinging again with a carefree, running-through-a-field-of-native-shrubs kind of feel. An intriguing cover of Suck My Kiss by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers raises the question "What can't they do?" before an uplifting, all-in version of Where My Nature Lays brings the set to a close.

The crowd, greedy for more, demands an encore and is graciously granted one more tune. Miche Suite sets off on a three-week tour of South West Australia in early January.

... - Review by Jack Graziotti SPACE SHIP NEWS

The Railway Hotel reached near-perfect crowd proportions just as Miche Suite took to the stage; nicely full, but with enough operating room left to do your thing amongst one of the most up-vibe, yet non-confrontational audiences on record. Once Sarah Clare (double bass), Mat Marsh (drums) and guests had settled in, Leah Miche introduced the first song from the trio’s new EP. “How you doing folks?” she asked. ”This song’s called Stick In The Mud.” Acoustic picking by Miche and brush-work from Marsh set the shuffle feel, soon joined by cello, violin and harmonica. The swinging continued through If I Leave (showing off Clare’s agile electric double-bass lines) before Miche switched to electric guitar. Her voice stayed the same; throaty and wise, with enough Australian left within the standard USA tone to hit home. Mo Wilson stepped up to put loose and bouncy piano into the light-footed and sleazy Sanderson Sons , which had people hitting the dance space front and centre.

The set took a detour with Miche hinting at a cover and leaving the crowd to figure it out. Most were stumped until the first lyric, and then a cheer heralded a creepy, slow-moving take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Suck My Kiss. After finishing with the didge-laden EP title track Where My Nature Lies, Miche Suite were easily convinced to encore, giving the crowd one more dance. A solid night of rocking, rootsy blues-folk. - Gig Reviews by Jeifer, 23rd December, 2008 Faster Louder

"Miche Suite's music lays waste to the legions of female-fronted singer-songwriter shite currently flooding every open mic night in the universe. With incredible musicianship at their disposal curtesy of a never-fail drummer, one of the best double bass player you'll ever find, and the incredible voice and on stage energy of Leah Miche; Miche Suite are sophisticated and worthy companion to the competitors whose strengths are more performance-based. Miche Suites classiness will see then go as far as they're willing to strive for''

''Miche Suite are a trio who combine some of the trickiest forms of music into one incredibly-digestible mutant that impresses the hell out of musicians and punters alike.

"Solid and beefy drums lock in tight with classically-trained double bass mastery, underneath bone crushing vocals that can hit just about every note audible to humans, and Miche Suite are away.

"Vivacious and raw, though feminine and controlled when they want to be; Miche Suite take Roots music and give it a much needed make over – adding both sex appeal and virtuosity seldom found in the popular style."


-Mike Wafer X press Magazine - -Mike Wafer X press Magazine

Sunday night saw beginning of an ongoing project called the Velvet Sessions, (or velvet verses- the jury is still undecided) which is hosted by MicheSuite, and gives a mixed selection of indie acts some stage time. This month saw singer/songwriters Lexi Keller and Byron Bay's Jez Mead added to the list of performers creating a buzz in the original live music scene.

Perth trio, MicheSuite, have lately moved from strength to strength, with the addition of drummer Mat Marsh, and newly secured residencies at both the Velvet Lounge (3rd Sundays) and the Oxford Hotel (Thursdays). Marsh joins Leah Miche (vox/guitar) and Sarah Clare (double bass) at an opportune time; they have been snapped up as a support for Jebediah's upcoming gig at Hopetoun Oval on May 24th.

After Keller's set, the hosts of the evening took the stage to encouraging applause. Miche's dominant, yet sweet, vocals were at home alongside the warmth of Clare's gorgeous vintage double bass, now augmented with a backdrop of intelligent percussive beats. This combination of instruments and Miche's non-traditional songwriting style produced a quirky and original folk/roots sound featuring local favorite, Luv Not Yet from their last EP. They then showcased a number of songs from their upcoming EP before handing on to Mead who instigated an enthusiastic response from the crowd, and then, licensing laws being what they are, brought the evening to a close all too soon, and left punters wishing for more. - matty nash, 21st May, 2008 (Faster Louder