Friday, October 16, 2009

Jackson Jackson and the Melodics electrify the Corner

Band: Jackson Jackson, supported by The Melodics
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 15th October 2009
Reviewed By: Heather

As we moseyed on down to The Corner on a blisteringly cold Melbourne night we were met by the sounds of The Melodics pounding out of the bandroom. The sound warmed us slightly as we queued for our tickets (note to self: have them posted next time! Spring weather in our Melbourne Town is far too precarious for queuing) then we made our way in to find the night's lineup had an earlier start than we expected. Fortunately for us, we didn't miss The Melodics whole set because they were - for want of a better word - un-freakin'-believable! As a Melodics virgin I found myself drawn in to the stage, and one song was all it took before I was dancing along with the rest of the crowd. Everybody knows how hard it is for a support band to get people moving, but not many could stand up against their funky electro-hiphop sounds with that irresistable groove. Immediately after their set I lined up for a CD which I know will remain a staple in my car's stacker. If you haven't seen The Melodics, do yourself a favour and hunt out one of their gigs. I'd love to see them as a headliner rather than support myself.

Fashionably late to arrive on stage (even though most of them were walking around plugging things in and doing sound checks in the interim), Jackson Jackson came out to the customary crowd roar. Despite his recent fear of razors and clippers, Harry was as comfortable on stage as he always is, belting out ISBD and All Alone, and showing his range of vocal abilities in Eliza and The River. Grab a Gun was the standout, with the audience punching the air in unison to the anti-violent sentiment "Throw out your guns!"

The Jackson Jackson Five had shrunk slightly to become the Jackson Jackson Three - only Elana Stone, Karishma Sadhai and Chantal Mitvalsky were there, but they danced and strutted as if there were ten on stage. I always wait in anticipation to see what kooky and cool outfits the girls appear in and they didn't disappoint, stepping out in a range of little black dresses with brightly coloured tights. These girls make backup singing into an art form, and lend a bright, exciting air to the show.

The Genie were on stage as always, Will drumming and looking no worse for wear after his recent foray into fatherhood (congratulations!) and Ryan playing bass looking completely relaxed. Ollie played the most epic keytar solo I have ever seen - at least three minutes worth - as the band exited stage left. Some chanting of "Encore!" brought them all back out a few minutes later to play a rather strange choice for a final song - Lonely Ooh - with the parting lyrical gesture "I don't know how to save the world".

Neither do we, but Jackson Jackson sure do a great job of slamming popular culture and searching for a better way. Maybe there IS something deeper underground.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Marilyn Manson creates a New Dawn

Band: Marilyn Manson with support from Hatchet Dawn
Venue: Festival Hall
Date: 10th October 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Arrival to festival hall tonight and upon impact of the ear drums we are met with the local Melbourne band – Hatchet Dawn. Described as groove crushing metal blended with spooky heavy, guttural rock with riffs and catchy vocal hooks, they are a new dawn of darkness. With their debut EP titled Faith In Chaos they’ll no doubt have many grim followers who feel at home with the group. Instead of playing in a morgue or under the silvery light of the moon, tonight they made festering hall shudder under their weeping arms of uber loud music connecting with the mosh pit of emo’s, old rockers and die hard Manson fans. Great light show ensued with a very tall lead singer, Loki, with his vocals sounding like he just had his voice box removed and instead spoke through a machine! There were a few groovy riffs amongst the clutter of grave music. Hearing the bassist talk was kind of odd after hearing the singing as he spoke with a good ole Aussie accent and it didn’t fit the sound! Loki asks us how we feed and the crowd screams their unforbidden answers.

This tour marks the seventh album for the Marilyn Manson band and a circuit of 20 years in the business. Critics have hailed this as a major return to form with the album titled The High End Of Low which debuted at number 12 on the Aussie charts and number 4 on the US charts – their highest in the US for years.

Marilyn Manson made headlines many years ago with his shock look and different ways of expressing himself which led to him perhaps being crowned the King of Goth come glamour come rock. Manson is often seen with gorgeous girls and wives around him whilst speaking whatever the hell he wants to talk about, whether it be offensive or not. These days’ people aren’t shocked about his traits and churches don’t try banning him from entering our country. However the man puts on a mean show and is still a sensational performer – hat changes, coat changes, glitter to the max spewing out into the crowd and two slaves who bring him tablets of some sorts, mask with oxygen perhaps and provide him with towels and beer – although I must add out of a slab of beer he was given throughout the show, he would have only drunk half of one bottle as the rest was spat out at whoever was in his path and the rest thrown into the crowd! Then we’re given speeches mentioning how he ought to teach us about religion, drugs or sex but won’t to which the punters booed him and agreed with him.

The gig starts with the curtain covering the stage and it isn’t dropped when Manson and crew explode on stage, a few bars are played before the curtain is gone before us. Manson looking uber cool with his jacket pronouncing HELL ETC on it with any reports of swine flu appearing to be behind him and into the song We’re From America he launches. The stage remains hazy throughout the entire gig (I think I saw splashes of a band) with Manson being the sole view point whether he be in a stage held spotlight, a small light attached to the microphone or general stage lights, he is always the attention. ‘We love to hate, we hate to love’ the punters chant and into peril for Irresponsible Hate Anthem the band claim. Then straight onto Dried Up, Tied and Dead To The World and it’s almost cat and mouse games with his slaves, he’ll throw anything and everything on stage and out the slaves dash ready to collect his hat, or prop back his microphone in case Manson delivers a nasty execution to them perhaps?! Knife on the microphone is reminiscent of Psycho bath scene and he delivers Dope Show to the respondent crown. If you didn’t know all his songs then a few songs do sound the same but he’s still entertaining and you can’t help but watch this lead singer continuously. I’m not sure about putting a towel down your pants then throwing to the crowd is really umm becoming but hey, the fan that caught it is probably never going to wash it.....ever!

Rock is Dead is performed with Mason at the end telling off a punter for almost raping a girl and Manson’s statement is ‘nobody hurts a girl but me’. Tourniquet springs more crowd participation and then the Eurhythmics cover Sweet Dreams which consist of spooky light on the microphone which allows Manson to have a silent and deadly look about him (more than normal) and before we know it the encore takes place. Tonight’s gig ends on The Beautiful People with white confetti bursting out and covering the black crowd and it looked fantastic.

A sold out gig, a mosh pit with hungry emo’s and characters chanted and showed their enthusiasm for the man who is Marilyn Manson – prepare to be offended, mesmerised and taken aboard as a prisoner.

As seen on http://www.thedwarf.com.au/

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Tex Perkins Black Cattle Dog Tour

Band: Tex Perkins
Venue: Prince Of Wales
Date: 9th October 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Tex Perkins, is there anything this man cannot do? What a year its been with his white clad Ladyboyz, black clad Johnny Cash shows, writing an evocative soundtrack whilst getting together his collection of past music out on show.

A sold out night at the Prince and the punters can feel the celebration in the air. Behind the stage on a large screen a small movie consisting of items knocking over items which is rather amusing (kind of like that car commercial) till the noise levels reach above natural ear listening capacity to which all the crowd put fingers on ears and this screen continues on till the boys enter on stage. I must add that the screen is kept going throughout the night bearing pictures of objects, snow and couples having sex!

Once the small movie in finished, smoke machine fills the stage and out come the band - Gus Agars on drums, Charlie Owen on almost everything, James Cruickshank on keys and guitar and Joel Silbershier on bass and not forgetting Tex the saturated crooner on vocals.

Tonight we're given many songs over the many genres of Tex Perkins. Half Of Nothing (TNT), Real Love (Dark Horses), It Won't Last (The Cruel Sea) and Speaks Different Language (solo). All unleashed with pure Tex charisma with lashings of spunk from Joel, edgy beats from Gus, twangy sounds from Charlie and glistening backing vocals from James. A show to never be missed because above all Tex is an entertainer and needs to be seen, as often as possible.

Johnette Napolitano wows The Corner Hotel

Band: Johnette Napolitano
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 8th October 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Its been a long time between drinks and Johnette Napolitano with Aussies. She is better known for her profound vocals in the band Concrete Blonde and tonight we're given a stellar performance of a mixture of her own stuff as well as Concrete Blondes.

An acoustic start ruptures with the song Amazing and many punters keep talking around me, so it was a few moves till positioned without having to hear someone's annoying banter. About three songs in we are joined with drummer which gets the place pumping. Johnette has strong stage presence and one feels that if she didn't get her way there would be hell to pay- at one point she pointed out someone recording and commented how she would shove it up their arse if they continued but did follow that statement up with 'I'm just kidding'.

Dancing around stage one minute, dedicating a song to her late father another minute and being a diva the next, I can safely say its a great gig to witness. A cover of Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning was aptly done and I cannot stress enough of how wonderful her live vocals are.

Songs of Concrete Blonde that she sung are Mexican Moon, Bloodletting (The Vampire Song), Joey and ending the night on Tomorrow Wendy - an acoutic moment. Other songs include The Scientist from her latest cd and Souvenir from her Pretty and Twisted cd (thanks anon).