Live Review: Warner ARIA Week Showcase: Jones Jnr., Thelma Plum, Jesse Davidson

Monday may seem a bit early in the week to be digging into industry drinks at GoodGod, but Warner kick off the week nonetheless, showcasing a handful of artists they picked up with their current A&R policy of signing early and on the quiet.

There's an intrigue around teenage Adelaide discovery Jesse Davidson, who shows a remarkable maturity in his songwriting despite taking a while to warm into the set tonight. Performing as a guitar-and-drums duo, most impressive was his awareness to not fill every space and give both his guitar and vocals a chance to breathe. Loosely indie-rock, but mainly singer-songwriter focused, the Jeff Buckley references that plague his recorded material are less prominent live, where the rawness of his inconsistencies and nervous banter work towards his own uniqueness. There's a fair bit of songwriting and live experience to come, but he's undeniably a talent.

As is Thelma Plum, but everyone's known that for a while. The young songwriter has been a natural on stage ever since we first saw her a few years ago and her confidence just seems to grow. It's been a steady build and she's got a solid catalogue of songs to draw on now, all of them beautifully delicate and playful at the same time. So comfortable in front of a crowd and captivating without the need for any flare, she's a really exciting prospect for 2014.

Running across town following their supporting set for Jill Scott, Jones Jnr., who were the talk of BIGSOUND after Warner nabbed them on the sly, finish the night with their incredibly soulful hip hop. With Thundamentals' DJ Morgs behind the desk and the stunningly good vocals of Ev Jones at the front, an increase in energy levels is really pushing their live show along. They've added a one-man brass section to the core duo since the Brisbane conference, as well, which, rather than punching through songs, kept to embellishing beats tonight. Jones Jnr. are at their best when they combine an intimate presence with the grandness of the songs, but the question is how long can they keep this restrained when everything about them is screaming to go bigger?