Band: Serj Tankian and Fantomas
Venue: Palace Theatre
Date: 25th January 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
I had balcony views in anticipation for some great music. I love the Fantomas 'Directers Cut' cd , so when I heard Fantomas were going to play this cd live, I was there with bells on. Mike Patton (musical genius) sported a cricket outfit for tonights show which did include leg pads! Indeed Mike got away with it, as did guitarist Buzz Osborne (The Melvins) and bassist Trevor Dunn (Mr Bungle). Drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer) was a treat tonight and he worked that kit and was ripping it to shreds.
Mike's haunting vocals fill the room tonight on many a song, a highlight being Rosemary's Baby, then Mike fills the room with noise and various tricks and treats from his keys and mixer. Buzz powers through the set and takes Trevor with him. Other songs include The Godfather and The Omen and all punters were taken on a mythological journey through the divide that is Fantomas.
For your information - Fantomas comes from a fictional arch villian and master criminal book by french Marcel Allian and Pierre Souvestre. I would say many punters were here just to see Fantomas and the crowd ached for more tunes. But alas, Mike and co weren't coming back, it was time for Serj Tankian (singer System of a Down).
Each time I think of Serj I imagine him to be part of a circus and I can hear him saying 'roll up, roll up' to the crowds. He just has that appeal about him. The band arrives, in top hats and straight into The Unthinking Majority which sent the crowd into a frenzy. The rest of the band were in red suits but the top hats came off after only a short time. We all sang Happy Birthday to Mike Patton at one point and engulfed more songs from Serj. Empty Walls was a big hit. The show took us on a rock and roll adventure hightlighted with Serj's front man adventure and circus hilarity. Only downer was ending on a cover of David Bowie's Ground Control to Major Tom - Sure it sounded great, but I wasn't impressed with it being the last song. Serj's cd called Elect the Dead is awesome, go buy it!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Green Grass, Sunshine, Wine and Leonard Cohen
Band: Leonard Cohen
Venue: A day on the Green at Rochford Winery
Date: 24th January 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
The Prince of precision, Leonard Cohen, graced the Rochford winery in the Yarra Valley for A Day on the Green, a 74 year young man and a nearly sold out crowd. The sunshine was just enough and the punters were in their element. On stage Leonard brought a full band, all wearing black suits, consisting of Dean on sax who is the master of breath we’re told, Bob on electric guitar, Raphael on drums, Javier Mas as the shepard or strings, Neil on keyboards and piano accordion, Russell on bass guitar and double bass, singer and co writer Sharon Robinson (who co wrote Everybody Knows) and Hattie and Charley, who are sisters, and they are the other two backing singers.
This is Leonard’s first tour of Australia in 24 years, so naturally the crowd are ready to hear his music. The crowd is a mixed lot, the older crowd is a-plenty and many young people flood through the gates. You may wonder if Leonard can still hold the crowd and he shows us that he defiantly can. With his beautiful Canadian accent he talks to the crowd and his singing voice takes us on a magical experience.
After almost every song the crowd erupts from their seats with applause, some punters are in tears over the music. Leonard seems a humble man who feels blessed at the crowd’s reaction to his music.
Sharon sings Boogie st and her voice is glorious, she could easily have her own sold out show throughout Australia. Such a fabulous voice that I’m jealous of!
Leonard sings songs which include Tower of Song, Everybody Knows, Suzanne (a song about a former wife of a friend and not his ex wife), Gypsy Wife, Hallelujah and So long Marianne. Leonard talks the song A Thousand Kisses which again brings people around me in tears and I can hear people talking the lyrics with Leonard. After the first set Leonard runs of stage whilst doing some small high kicks!
Whilst watching the show I see flocks of ducks fly overhead and cockatoos screeching above the crowd - are they too enjoying the beautiful music that fills the sky tonight?
Leonard tells us the complexities of life are ‘do da dum dum’ and this we take away with us! Leonard has suffered from depression throughout his life and his music often reflects this, but the songs often reflect war, politics, cultural and sexual themes. His live set wasn’t as depressing as I thought it cAAould be, quite the opposite actually.
Leonard bows to his band members when introducing them and he looks at them all with passion when they performing their solo’s. Whilst watching him I cannot help but feel blessed at seeing such a humble and passionate man.
I enjoyed drinking some wine and listening to the magical voice of Leonard and I wondered if he was like a fine wine that gets better with age.
Venue: A day on the Green at Rochford Winery
Date: 24th January 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
The Prince of precision, Leonard Cohen, graced the Rochford winery in the Yarra Valley for A Day on the Green, a 74 year young man and a nearly sold out crowd. The sunshine was just enough and the punters were in their element. On stage Leonard brought a full band, all wearing black suits, consisting of Dean on sax who is the master of breath we’re told, Bob on electric guitar, Raphael on drums, Javier Mas as the shepard or strings, Neil on keyboards and piano accordion, Russell on bass guitar and double bass, singer and co writer Sharon Robinson (who co wrote Everybody Knows) and Hattie and Charley, who are sisters, and they are the other two backing singers.
This is Leonard’s first tour of Australia in 24 years, so naturally the crowd are ready to hear his music. The crowd is a mixed lot, the older crowd is a-plenty and many young people flood through the gates. You may wonder if Leonard can still hold the crowd and he shows us that he defiantly can. With his beautiful Canadian accent he talks to the crowd and his singing voice takes us on a magical experience.
After almost every song the crowd erupts from their seats with applause, some punters are in tears over the music. Leonard seems a humble man who feels blessed at the crowd’s reaction to his music.
Sharon sings Boogie st and her voice is glorious, she could easily have her own sold out show throughout Australia. Such a fabulous voice that I’m jealous of!
Leonard sings songs which include Tower of Song, Everybody Knows, Suzanne (a song about a former wife of a friend and not his ex wife), Gypsy Wife, Hallelujah and So long Marianne. Leonard talks the song A Thousand Kisses which again brings people around me in tears and I can hear people talking the lyrics with Leonard. After the first set Leonard runs of stage whilst doing some small high kicks!
Whilst watching the show I see flocks of ducks fly overhead and cockatoos screeching above the crowd - are they too enjoying the beautiful music that fills the sky tonight?
Leonard tells us the complexities of life are ‘do da dum dum’ and this we take away with us! Leonard has suffered from depression throughout his life and his music often reflects this, but the songs often reflect war, politics, cultural and sexual themes. His live set wasn’t as depressing as I thought it cAAould be, quite the opposite actually.
Leonard bows to his band members when introducing them and he looks at them all with passion when they performing their solo’s. Whilst watching him I cannot help but feel blessed at seeing such a humble and passionate man.
I enjoyed drinking some wine and listening to the magical voice of Leonard and I wondered if he was like a fine wine that gets better with age.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Cinematic Orchestra at the Palais Theatre
Band: The Cinematic Orchestra
Venue: Palais Theatre
Date: 20th January 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Tonight I witnessed the sound that is Cinematic Orchestra. The crowd tonight were fully pumped to witness this band, and a nearly sold out Palais theatre tells me this is a band worth seeing.
A combination of jazz and electronic fusion mixed with lush vocals of the spine tingling variety. The band formed in 1999 and it was created by Jason Swinscoe. On vocals tonight we are graced with the presence of the magnificent voice of Heidi Vogel and Reverend Grey. Heidi is truly show stopping – strong vocals and a haunting powerful voice - I could see why she received the most claps from the audience. I could not help but watch her and wish I could sing that way!
Hailing from the UK the band consists of Luke Flowers on drums, Tom Chant on saxophone, Nick Ramm on piano, Stuart McCallum on guitar and Phil France on double bass. Jason Swinscoe plays the turntable like the professional he is, using the singers vocals by recording the live music, then playing it back as backing vocals, one had to look around and see where the backing singers had come from, the sound was awesome. Jason spins the turntable whilst improvising throughout the performance. He also received a strong reaction from the crowd.
Jason talks to the audience a fair bit throughout the show and manages a laugh when his hard drive fails him. It thankfully doesn’t take too long for the show to go on and the disruption is soon forgotten.
I overheard a few people saying it was about time this band toured and I have no doubt they were not disappointed tonight. I had never heard of this band so seeing them was a great experience. Check them out, you won’t regret it.
Venue: Palais Theatre
Date: 20th January 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Tonight I witnessed the sound that is Cinematic Orchestra. The crowd tonight were fully pumped to witness this band, and a nearly sold out Palais theatre tells me this is a band worth seeing.
A combination of jazz and electronic fusion mixed with lush vocals of the spine tingling variety. The band formed in 1999 and it was created by Jason Swinscoe. On vocals tonight we are graced with the presence of the magnificent voice of Heidi Vogel and Reverend Grey. Heidi is truly show stopping – strong vocals and a haunting powerful voice - I could see why she received the most claps from the audience. I could not help but watch her and wish I could sing that way!
Hailing from the UK the band consists of Luke Flowers on drums, Tom Chant on saxophone, Nick Ramm on piano, Stuart McCallum on guitar and Phil France on double bass. Jason Swinscoe plays the turntable like the professional he is, using the singers vocals by recording the live music, then playing it back as backing vocals, one had to look around and see where the backing singers had come from, the sound was awesome. Jason spins the turntable whilst improvising throughout the performance. He also received a strong reaction from the crowd.
Jason talks to the audience a fair bit throughout the show and manages a laugh when his hard drive fails him. It thankfully doesn’t take too long for the show to go on and the disruption is soon forgotten.
I overheard a few people saying it was about time this band toured and I have no doubt they were not disappointed tonight. I had never heard of this band so seeing them was a great experience. Check them out, you won’t regret it.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Hell Hounds take on the Greyhound - best gig ever!!!
Band: Hell Hounds
Venue: Greyhound Hotel
Date: 17th January 2009
Reviewed By: Dave Espy
The Greyhound was packed to the rafters for tonights Hell Hounds gig, (I've never seen it so full). Most of the familiar crowd that we usually see down there on Sundays were there, as well as most of Phil Para's crowd (which initally takes place at the espy on sat nights from 6pm). The bar staff could not cope, it was four deep at the bar. F**king hell it took ages to get a drink ( but l still managed to get pissed!!) This was Venom"s the drummers third gig in 24 hours, Electric Mary last night at the espy, Phil Para tonight and now the Hell Hounds, he looked a bit tired, but played to his usual high standard. By the time the 2nd set started, everyone was up dancing, even Ivan Millats brother ??!!, great auusie crowd. Steve Pricker joined the band in the 2nd set, he was f**king awesome. In conclusion it was a fantastic night had by all, great band and all the misfits had fun :-)
BTW my ears are still ringing!!!
Venue: Greyhound Hotel
Date: 17th January 2009
Reviewed By: Dave Espy
The Greyhound was packed to the rafters for tonights Hell Hounds gig, (I've never seen it so full). Most of the familiar crowd that we usually see down there on Sundays were there, as well as most of Phil Para's crowd (which initally takes place at the espy on sat nights from 6pm). The bar staff could not cope, it was four deep at the bar. F**king hell it took ages to get a drink ( but l still managed to get pissed!!) This was Venom"s the drummers third gig in 24 hours, Electric Mary last night at the espy, Phil Para tonight and now the Hell Hounds, he looked a bit tired, but played to his usual high standard. By the time the 2nd set started, everyone was up dancing, even Ivan Millats brother ??!!, great auusie crowd. Steve Pricker joined the band in the 2nd set, he was f**king awesome. In conclusion it was a fantastic night had by all, great band and all the misfits had fun :-)
BTW my ears are still ringing!!!
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