Band: Root! with support from The Rhetorics
Venue: Yah Yahs
Date: 20th August 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn
A sold out show allowed the youthful band The Rhetorics to unleash some eager and energetic rock, pop and punk sound to the punters at Yah Yahs. A steady crowd watched on with many heading out for a smoke into the cold night to then come back and take position to witness an interesting band commit some fabulous guitar action and show us an image which suits the boys and I must admit, a style of music that grew on me.
Not only a sold out show but sold out merchandise for Root! Tee-shirts were displayed all around and the punters heckled Root! Root! in absolute dog style vocals and typical fashion until the band crept panther-like through the crowd and onto stage. Tonight’s performance would be the last for the band as they hang up their sound and will call it a day amidst reports that DC will fly solo for a while.
An introduction begins called Root! tapes and for many moments we are laughing to the one liners and songs which have been changed to suit a more Root! style of theme. Smoke bellows and laughter prevails, whilst the cowboys hats are ready on stage. Not as many cowboy hats in the audience which is a surprise but the crowd don’t disappoint tonight with their heckling, moshing and singing along to the songs of Root!
DC , the effervescent front man, welcomes the Greatest Rock N Roll Band and the song Uncle Vom Vom starts the set and is followed with Orange People, Get Up Yourself and Famous For Being Famous and the band prowled the stage as though this wasn’t their last show but their first. Mad drums, electric guitar and great melodies are what Root! have always been and listening to the lyrics as their tongue in cheek riddles are set to music really does work.
Joe Bloggs Blogg brings on some heckling and DC almost looks as though he’s had enough – a hot interior makes a few of us move closer to the door which is full of steam and when the security opens the door, it’s a wonderful feeling to feel that cold night air. Root! continue with Shazza and Michelle which bleats out guitar and drum grooves and finally DC is out amongst the crowd as he does best. I Wish I Was Tex Perkins is sung whilst hopping along the bar and is quickly followed by Caroline Springs.
Encore doesn’t really happen as there really isn’t anywhere for the band to go to so they continue their final show to the more than full house with bringing bongo’s on stage and we witness Doug Lee Root! singing Run Like The Wind – a Christopher Cross cover, and the song is backed up by Henri and Steve Root! I’m left wondering if DC will come back and he does for another couple of songs – I’ll Get My Kicks When I’m 66 and Hokey Pokey and then the band that was, isn’t any more. The guttural howls of the punters saying Root! Root! follow me home.
as seen on www.thedwarf.com.au
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Midlake amaze punters with their humble talent
Band: Midlake with support from Big Scary
Venue: Prince Of Wales
Date: 2nd August 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Big Scary are an interesting yet appropriate support for Midlake and it’s always nice to see Melbourne bands as supports for internationalist acts. A duet combining of Tom who sings and plays guitar and keys and Jo who plays drums, guitar, shaker and sings and together they perform folk garage rock tunes. Low melodics initially circulate the room tonight and entice all the punters slowly until Tom and Jo changes instruments toward the end of their set and the music gains momentum and heightens our senses with bellowing rock and classy keys combined with drum beats.
Midlake are a band that I find hard to review as you really need to see them to take it their sound properly, as their music reflects their albums and they actually sound better live having mastered a format which suits them.
Midlake build up their initial presence with some rock instrumental action before delving into the tune Winter Dies (from the latest album The Courage of Others) - Tim Smith’s (songwriter) vocals are amazing live and capture the music first class.
Midlake are a seven piece band from Texas and with five guitars on stage at any given time and triple the flutes so it’s a layered and textured sound that works. A green shimmery drum kit almost looks out of sorts in amongst the hippy style surrounds that makes me feel I’m living in the 1970’s.
Its these five guitars that pelt out the layers of music as the band head into Children Of The Grounds, a hearty song with majestic awareness and then they show off the three flutes for Young Bride which is off their album titled The Trials of Van Occupanther and following is another tune from the same album aptly titled Van Occupanther, the punters yelp with excitement here! The Courage Of Others unleashes a big instrumental piece with Max Townsley paving the path on guitar and McKenzie Smith pumping away on drums.
Call Of Nature, Roscoe and Fortune all take us into other worlds whilst Head Home begins with more flutes and shakers and the boys take to stage like they belong there. Eric Pulido is the main man talking to the crowd throughout the night and enjoying the heckling he receives. The inevitable encore hits us but it’s not long before they’re back and finishing off the set with Bandits and Branches. Although they seem to have left their quieter tunes to the end, it’s their songs off The Courage of Others that I find the most stunning.
A dazzling set, one which is hard to review and capture just how fascinating they boys are to watch as well as trying to describe the screams and clapping the audience produces which almost deafens me but the boys smile at such an applause. Humble to the end.
as seen on www.thedwarf.com.au
Venue: Prince Of Wales
Date: 2nd August 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn
Big Scary are an interesting yet appropriate support for Midlake and it’s always nice to see Melbourne bands as supports for internationalist acts. A duet combining of Tom who sings and plays guitar and keys and Jo who plays drums, guitar, shaker and sings and together they perform folk garage rock tunes. Low melodics initially circulate the room tonight and entice all the punters slowly until Tom and Jo changes instruments toward the end of their set and the music gains momentum and heightens our senses with bellowing rock and classy keys combined with drum beats.
Midlake are a band that I find hard to review as you really need to see them to take it their sound properly, as their music reflects their albums and they actually sound better live having mastered a format which suits them.
Midlake build up their initial presence with some rock instrumental action before delving into the tune Winter Dies (from the latest album The Courage of Others) - Tim Smith’s (songwriter) vocals are amazing live and capture the music first class.
Midlake are a seven piece band from Texas and with five guitars on stage at any given time and triple the flutes so it’s a layered and textured sound that works. A green shimmery drum kit almost looks out of sorts in amongst the hippy style surrounds that makes me feel I’m living in the 1970’s.
Its these five guitars that pelt out the layers of music as the band head into Children Of The Grounds, a hearty song with majestic awareness and then they show off the three flutes for Young Bride which is off their album titled The Trials of Van Occupanther and following is another tune from the same album aptly titled Van Occupanther, the punters yelp with excitement here! The Courage Of Others unleashes a big instrumental piece with Max Townsley paving the path on guitar and McKenzie Smith pumping away on drums.
Call Of Nature, Roscoe and Fortune all take us into other worlds whilst Head Home begins with more flutes and shakers and the boys take to stage like they belong there. Eric Pulido is the main man talking to the crowd throughout the night and enjoying the heckling he receives. The inevitable encore hits us but it’s not long before they’re back and finishing off the set with Bandits and Branches. Although they seem to have left their quieter tunes to the end, it’s their songs off The Courage of Others that I find the most stunning.
A dazzling set, one which is hard to review and capture just how fascinating they boys are to watch as well as trying to describe the screams and clapping the audience produces which almost deafens me but the boys smile at such an applause. Humble to the end.
as seen on www.thedwarf.com.au
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