Sunday, December 19, 2010

Hoodoo Gurus take the Break at sold out Corner Gig

Band: Hoodoo Gurus with The Break
Date: 17th December 2010
Reviewed By: Danelle Lee

The Break was a great draw for the night with three of its members being from the Oils, Rob Hirst: drums, Martin Rotsey: guitar and Jim Moginie on guitar and Theremin. Lead singer Brian Ritchie is from the Violent Femmes and just to add to the gold they occasionally brought on Jack Howard: trumpet from Hunters and Collectors. Throughout the set we were treated to black and white projections onto the back wall of massive breaks; 70’s beach scenes showcasing girls in bikinis and all occasionally interspersed with filmic scenes such as ‘The Monster from the Black Lagoon’. This heady mix created the perfect environment for The Break’s heady psychedelic surfer music.

We were eased into the set with Cylinders and Five Rocks which was when we really got our first taste of the eerie and seductive charms of Moginie on the Theremin evoking the full sonic force of The Break. It was nice to hear the band play a few Midnight Oil songs like Eye Contact and Wedding Cake Island. Highlights were, Hirst’s drum solo during Phobos Grunt and a classic cover of Miserlou.

To get a real sense of what this sold out gig for Hoodoo Gurus was like, I have to set the scene. The Hoodoo Gurus have been around for three decades and are a part of Australia’s iconic music history. In that time the band have racked up a fair following of all ages from; the sweaty bogan boys in front of me, bouncing and falling over themselves planting fat sloppy kisses of bro lust on each other to the two silver foxes bobbing and singing along behind me.

Hoodoos opened the set with the heavy rifts and hard base beats of What’s in it for me from their new album Purity of Essence. This launched the band into a set that did not disappoint old and new fans alike playing a cross section of songs that covered three decades and nine studio albums. After a nearly six year album hiatus, Dave Faulkner and Brad Shepherd’s recognisable harmonies and vocals and Brad Kingsmill’s solid drum beats lifted the crowd into a moshpit frenzy, especially with old favourites like Come Anytime, What’s My Scene and Axe Grinder. California was a bit of a let down and was very close to the end of the set and I’m not sure if Faulkner’s faux walk off stage before the encore contributed to this.

However, like the seasoned professionals they are, they recovered quickly and what ensued was a powerful Crackin Up - the first song on their new album and a dramatic Wow- Like Wipe-out which was all tied together with confetti guns. So in true Aussie style the concert finished with one of the bogan boys in front picking a handful of confetti out of my friend's ample bosom.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Big Guns Korn and Kiwi Rockers Shihad

Band: Korn supported by Shihad
Date: 5th December 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Shihad has just started as I entered the venue and they proved they have the guts and glory to fully rock out as a support act just as much as when they are the main act. Frontman Johnny Toogood proves time and time again he is the front man guru. Shihad powers out old hits and newbies to the punters who lap up the bands antics and bounce for the Kiwi rockers.

Korn enter stage amongst smoke and when the infamous microphone stand is uncovered the crowd go ballistic (ballistic is actually too weak a word), and the band members leap into each song with so much love and passion that we all follow suit.

I could feel the pent up energy before the band started and it wasn't long before guys in the crowd had shirts off and were pushing the rest of the crowd into mayhem. Korn played to the crowds energy and got them bouncing so much I wondered if the floor could hold such a force.
Jonathon Davies is the exotic front man with his crazy dancing, dreadlocks jumping all over the place showing us that Korn are here to stay and his vocals bring us the passion and filth Korn fans need. Fieldy slaps that bass and surrenders to that twangy bass sound that the band is renowned for, whilst Munky is the most interesting in appearance displaying a mask whilst sticking his tongue for the crowd as he often does whilst Ray Luzier hits the AMAZING looking drum kit like a zombie who has just been told he's about to get some brains for dinner, my goodness is that one sexy mutherfucking drumkit.

Korn played hit upon hit including Somebody Someone, Falling Away From Me, Blind, Shoots and Ladders, Freak On A Leash and new tunes Oildale 'Leave Me Alone' and Let The Guilt Go. Fans erupted with pent up angst and singing through every song like I haven't seen for a long time. A piano crept into the start of a few song but I wasn't sure this was really necessary to the performance. Last song of the night was Got The Life.
This gig has been my personal favourite Korn gig which I feel is due to the smaller venue with crazy awesome loving Korn fans.I left the show with the biggest smile on my face and even though it was humid in festering hall and my feet hurt, I didn't want the show to stop - boo to curfews!

Blondie and The Pretenders

Band: Blondie, The Pretenders
Date: 2nd & 4th December
Reviewed By: Espylyn

I couldn't decide which show to review so I thought I'd kind of sum them both up, but lets make two things clear, the DOTG show was the better and wearing homy ped on stage isn't cool when you're a rock queen. Okay, so now that that is out there where do I begin.

Adalita was the support but I didn't really catch either of her shows but I'm kinda glad I didn't as I only heard bad reviews, I wasn't sure how that could be possible for a rock chick like Adalita so lets not touch that part of the review and lets move on to the two main acts.

The Pretenders showed us they still have got it, well, Chrissie Hynde showed us that at the age of 59 and with years of yoga behind you, we can all be doing high kicks and groovy dance moves without being breathless. The band performed many hits and barely any misses in a set that left us all wanting more of Hynde and crew. Hynde has been the only constant member of The Pretenders and this band has had major influence for the music world since the humble beginnings. Kudos to the band for showing us how to rock out.

Next up at the Palais Theatre is a fine old band, and a 65 year young Debbie Harris took charge of the stage with charm and style allowing the erupting fans to look in envy at her energy and beautiful demeanor and I'm sure all females were hoping that they'd act that young when they hit her age (or Hynde's). Lots of instrument solos where Harry would kind of dance side of stage and and only a few people in the audience were dancing throughout the set which was weird. Harry did get the punters up and dancing towards the end. A plethora of music from the old songs and the new songs. DOTG was the better of the gigs for Blondie, the crowd were up and dancing from woe to go and getting into the day with much more enthusiasm but naturally with alcohol being involved, that will always play a large contender with how the crowd is going to react. Both gigs had the same songs, Call Me in both shows was the failure, I thought Harry had lost the plot as the song seemed to fall in a heap with no oomph and no sign of Harry looking like she was with us. But fear not, every other song was amazing, Heart of Glass to Rapture, Atomic War, One Way and Hanging on the Telephone. Harry came out wearing a skirt but soon ripped it off to reveal short shorts with her homy ped style shoes! Fabulous legs I must add. Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmi Destri and co all presented themselves with pure indulgence and made the show a fantastic experience.

Very happy to say I've seen some legend rock bands in different venues, and thankfully the Melbourne weather held off to give us a sunny day for the green.