Band: Alice Cooper supported by Electric Mary
Venue: Palais Theatre
Date: 28th August 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Electric Mary started the night with many needing ear plugs, the sound was incredibly loud. Not necessarily a bad thing for a band that strike a notch in many people's groove machines. With songs like Luv Me, One Foot In The Grave and Crash Down On Your Head -Rusty gave his usual frontman prowl and anger to release the songs in only a way that he could. The band had lengthy solo's as Irwin and Pete strutting their guitar action hero stances, Venom pounded the drums and Alex grooving the angry bass. A truly awesome band....
Now begins Alice Coopers theatre of death. A large sheet was on stage from the roof with his face and on the floor was a huge red oval reminiscent of a blood leak, the music started, the sheet dropped and there stood Alice on a round small platform and off into Schools Out he began. The crowd went nuts, the Alice Cooper look-a-likes went nuts and not long after he was guillotined - but naturally managed to come back! I don't know all Alice songs but he covered a range that spanned over his musical career including Poison, Welcome to My Nightmare and Only Woman Bleed. Many completists were in the audience having bought all tee-shirts, stickers and poster magazine and they certainly got their money's worth.
Alice and co tempted us into their lair with a fantastic theatrical show where highlights included Alice dying four times, the sexy nurse (his actual daughter) grinding her pelvis with an actual grinder and therefore sparks flying, a band looking like death themselves - but a very movable, active, rock your socks off death and the formidable costume changes and the fact for a older guy he could move better than some young bands I've seen. Hats off to the Theatre of Death and Alice Cooper for a great nights entertainment.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Bertie Blackman showcases her Secrets and Lies
Band: Bertie Blackman, Hungry Kids from Hungry and Kimbra
Venue: Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom
Date: 21st August 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Tonight's cold evening didn't stop a sell out crowd at the Hi Fi Bar to witness Bertie Blackman in her first show here since moving to Melbourne and 'finding home'.
Kimbra opens the show with her guitar to a modest crowd. A strong voice and funky use of textured and layered vocals made me stand up and take note. Although her techie wasn't found at one time when she needed him it didn't stop her performance for standing out and her fifties sounding vocals made me feel Kimbra could go a long way in this field. With lyrics like 'Do you wanna raise a child with me' certainly made a few men with committment issues run far and wide, but it was her pop, indie, alternative rock sound that stood out. Lapse we are told is about marriage and how couples fall out of love whilst being in marriage and her cover of Goyte's Hearts A Mess was smoothly driven. Kimbra ended the night with I Didn't Start The Fire (no, not the Billy Joel similar sounding song!). I was very impressed with her sound and I hope many people persue her gigs around town.
Hungry Kids of Hungry were next, a four piece male band and a more MMM (radio) sound. Casio pop band with two singers. Keyboardist going off on keys and tamborine and displaying a great vocal lead at times, a drummer in touch with his cruisiness and a bass player grunting as much as his guitar. Many gaps in the show with general chit chat and lots of crowd participation throughout the set. The singer lapped up the stage and seemed to love being there. A good solid crowd saw this set and they left with many punters clapping.
Enter Bertie Blackman after a snippet of the theme from Twin Peaks (love that tune), and after a 'hello' she delves straight into Thump. The stage behind her is adorned with snazzy lights which are a fantastic show throughout, and cardboard creatures hang around the stage. A swig from her pint of beer and into White Owl, a pure strong voice was showcased tonight and I am amazed at just how good her voice in live. Wearing a black long see-through dress with black bra and undies underneath she doesn't leave much for the appeasing fans. Clocks is next which for me is a dreary song and followed by some duelling keys on Lost and Found. Black Cat possesses dirty synthesizer and Byrds of Prey displays a growl in her vocals. After only 40 minutes she takes a break saying she wont be back but for those who believe her and who have their jaw on the ground, she laughs and says of course she'll be back! Bertie comes out again with a new song that she has written especially for us, an acoustic number that gets the punters hearts going. Band enter and they cover the Sting song, Something In The Air Tonight, which was covered well but way too drawn out. Bertie tells us she is living in Melbourne now and moved here about four months ago, she has been looking forward to tonight for ages, she also mentions that this is her home town now, and to any Melbournite I can safely say many people smiled knowingly to this comment. Her last song to cap off the evening is Sky Is Falling, which we're told is her favourite off the new album titled Secrets and Lies. I hear many people leaving saying what a great gig and I agree. There will be many people wishing they'd come along tonight as well and maybe next time Bertie will be playing in a larger venue.
Bertie is a great muso, she talks with the crowd, tells stories, swears and seems to have a real good time on stage, this is one girl with a great career ahead of her. Thanks Bertie and may Melbourne carry you in their hearts as well.
Venue: Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom
Date: 21st August 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Tonight's cold evening didn't stop a sell out crowd at the Hi Fi Bar to witness Bertie Blackman in her first show here since moving to Melbourne and 'finding home'.
Kimbra opens the show with her guitar to a modest crowd. A strong voice and funky use of textured and layered vocals made me stand up and take note. Although her techie wasn't found at one time when she needed him it didn't stop her performance for standing out and her fifties sounding vocals made me feel Kimbra could go a long way in this field. With lyrics like 'Do you wanna raise a child with me' certainly made a few men with committment issues run far and wide, but it was her pop, indie, alternative rock sound that stood out. Lapse we are told is about marriage and how couples fall out of love whilst being in marriage and her cover of Goyte's Hearts A Mess was smoothly driven. Kimbra ended the night with I Didn't Start The Fire (no, not the Billy Joel similar sounding song!). I was very impressed with her sound and I hope many people persue her gigs around town.
Hungry Kids of Hungry were next, a four piece male band and a more MMM (radio) sound. Casio pop band with two singers. Keyboardist going off on keys and tamborine and displaying a great vocal lead at times, a drummer in touch with his cruisiness and a bass player grunting as much as his guitar. Many gaps in the show with general chit chat and lots of crowd participation throughout the set. The singer lapped up the stage and seemed to love being there. A good solid crowd saw this set and they left with many punters clapping.
Enter Bertie Blackman after a snippet of the theme from Twin Peaks (love that tune), and after a 'hello' she delves straight into Thump. The stage behind her is adorned with snazzy lights which are a fantastic show throughout, and cardboard creatures hang around the stage. A swig from her pint of beer and into White Owl, a pure strong voice was showcased tonight and I am amazed at just how good her voice in live. Wearing a black long see-through dress with black bra and undies underneath she doesn't leave much for the appeasing fans. Clocks is next which for me is a dreary song and followed by some duelling keys on Lost and Found. Black Cat possesses dirty synthesizer and Byrds of Prey displays a growl in her vocals. After only 40 minutes she takes a break saying she wont be back but for those who believe her and who have their jaw on the ground, she laughs and says of course she'll be back! Bertie comes out again with a new song that she has written especially for us, an acoustic number that gets the punters hearts going. Band enter and they cover the Sting song, Something In The Air Tonight, which was covered well but way too drawn out. Bertie tells us she is living in Melbourne now and moved here about four months ago, she has been looking forward to tonight for ages, she also mentions that this is her home town now, and to any Melbournite I can safely say many people smiled knowingly to this comment. Her last song to cap off the evening is Sky Is Falling, which we're told is her favourite off the new album titled Secrets and Lies. I hear many people leaving saying what a great gig and I agree. There will be many people wishing they'd come along tonight as well and maybe next time Bertie will be playing in a larger venue.
Bertie is a great muso, she talks with the crowd, tells stories, swears and seems to have a real good time on stage, this is one girl with a great career ahead of her. Thanks Bertie and may Melbourne carry you in their hearts as well.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Ross Wilson Rocks with Five Decades of Cool
Band: Ross Wilson
Venue: The Palais Theatre
Date: 14th August 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Ross Wilson stormed the stage at the Palais tonight to a nearly sold out gig. The original member of Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock put together a stellar display of oldies mixed in with the newer songs. After five decades performing many hits Ross took to stage tonight with many fellow musicians including Ross Hannaford, Stu Fraser and Mike Rudd.
Many punters flooded the bars and drank in excess and therefore were seen to be going back and forth to the bathroom, whilst the rest of us looked upon this Aussie sensation with awe. Dressed in a suit and giving us many dance moves and grooves, Ross showed us he is a force to be reckoned with. His voice displayed perfectly in this theatre, reaching the back of the dress circle and those punters not going to the toilet were dancing in their seats.
Songs like Come Said the Boy was a major crowd pleaser and when Jimmy Barnes hit the stage for three songs, the punters eyes lit up with love and affection for another Aussie favourite. I did see Jimmy after his songs, checking out the merchandise and lovingly scooping his wife for a hug (awww).
Part two started with some Skyhooks songs, as Ross did produce a couple of their records so we got Horror Movie and Ego which were nicely done I thought, and at the end of the night the song which would have been a great last song was the famous Eagle Rock which went off with a bang, a would-have-been perfect ending (due to many people leaving thinking the show was actually finished!) to the show- loud and vibrant - but no, they came back for the quieter Daddy Who?Daddy Cool! number then Love Journey finished off the set and although many punters had started walking out after Eagle Rock finished, they now all littered the aisles waiting for the song to end, then they were on their way, not forgetting to grab their free cd on the way out!
Thanks Ross for nearly five decades of music, hopefully a celebration of a successful night:)
Venue: The Palais Theatre
Date: 14th August 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Ross Wilson stormed the stage at the Palais tonight to a nearly sold out gig. The original member of Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock put together a stellar display of oldies mixed in with the newer songs. After five decades performing many hits Ross took to stage tonight with many fellow musicians including Ross Hannaford, Stu Fraser and Mike Rudd.
Many punters flooded the bars and drank in excess and therefore were seen to be going back and forth to the bathroom, whilst the rest of us looked upon this Aussie sensation with awe. Dressed in a suit and giving us many dance moves and grooves, Ross showed us he is a force to be reckoned with. His voice displayed perfectly in this theatre, reaching the back of the dress circle and those punters not going to the toilet were dancing in their seats.
Songs like Come Said the Boy was a major crowd pleaser and when Jimmy Barnes hit the stage for three songs, the punters eyes lit up with love and affection for another Aussie favourite. I did see Jimmy after his songs, checking out the merchandise and lovingly scooping his wife for a hug (awww).
Part two started with some Skyhooks songs, as Ross did produce a couple of their records so we got Horror Movie and Ego which were nicely done I thought, and at the end of the night the song which would have been a great last song was the famous Eagle Rock which went off with a bang, a would-have-been perfect ending (due to many people leaving thinking the show was actually finished!) to the show- loud and vibrant - but no, they came back for the quieter Daddy Who?Daddy Cool! number then Love Journey finished off the set and although many punters had started walking out after Eagle Rock finished, they now all littered the aisles waiting for the song to end, then they were on their way, not forgetting to grab their free cd on the way out!
Thanks Ross for nearly five decades of music, hopefully a celebration of a successful night:)
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