Saturday, February 18, 2012

Tex Perkins shows us his Band of Gold

Band: Tex Perkins and the Band of Gold
Venue: Regal Ballroom
Date: 17th February 2012
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Tonight, the lovely Regal Ballroom in Northcote is full of punters enjoying a lazy wine and a meal before being entertained by the legendary Tex Perkins and his Band of Gold. The latest Tex craze is a band of colourful (and perhaps, not so colourful) country cover songs. It’s a far cry from Beasts of Bourbon and The Cruel Sea and as those who are aware of the Tex phenomenon; there is plenty of his music for all sorts of listening ears. The Band of Gold’s music concocts a contemporary sound of country, blended with Tex’s fine humour giving it that warm tasty palate in the mouth feeling. If you’re not into country music, then this band and music probably isn’t for you, the songs are mainly about wanting to be with a girl and breaking up with a girl and a touch of wanting too many girls (isn't all country lyrics about this I hear you ask!).

Band of Gold is Tex Perkins and Rachael Tidd on vocals with Steve Hadly on bass, Matt Walker on guitar, Shane Reilly on slide guitar and ukulele (or as Perkins says, "the sewing machine"!) with Shannon Bourne on guitar and Dave Folley on drums. I daresay this clan derived from the Man In Black (Johnny Cash theater shows) which were, and still are, a huge success around the country. I say this as most band members in Band of Gold are from Man In Black.

Tex Perkins deep, growly voice and Rachael Tidd’s stunning vocals blend together perfectly and together they complement each other to bring us some fine country crooning songs. I feel seeing them live is the preferred experience for me, the album at home is one to chillax too, to have on in the background to enjoy, but live, the humour of Tex Perkins and the magical notes of the band give stealth to the music.

Now, I did head to The Spiegel Tent the night prior to see the band and I thought they were funnier and more relaxed than tonight’s performance, but I’m not here to review The Spiegel Tent's show so onward and upward I go!

Every seat in the Ballroom was filled and the punters were saturated with anticipation as Tex, Rachael and co graced our stage and Tex uttered “I like that quiet respect, it’s a kind of fear isn’t it, you’re right to be afraid” (due to the fact no-one clapped until he said this), and into 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' (Kris Kristofferson) and the vocals of Perkins and Tidd moved through the crowd and their stage presence made a few of us wonder if Tidd, who is pregnant, was carrying Perkins baby (just kidding! love their stage togetherness). Thunderous applause came and receded and Tex says “we’ll be singing a lot of sexy songs tonight” and the lush guitar filters the room while 'Silver Wings' (Merle Haggard) is sung with stunning slide guitar that creeps throughout the song and gives the song a presence of being in Hawaii.

This is the fourth time I’ve seen Band of Gold and they appear to sing the songs in the same order as their released debut album. Next Shane Reilly brings out a much loved instrument, the ukulele, and 'Anyhow I love You' (Guy Clark) takes hold of the room, a catchy, rhyming style of a song that gets the feet tapping. Throughout the rest of the evening songs like 'I’d Rather Be Sorry' (by Kristofferson and “the best song about philosophy” says Perkins), 'Gypsy Rider' (Gene Clark) which is my favourite of the set due to the passion in the lyrics, starting off with Matt Walker on guitar and beautifully set to slide guitar, it really is a magical tune and the lovely 'Kathleen' fill the air tonight.

The first set is over and it feels like time has gone rather too quickly and into encore we head with a great rendition of the Leon Payne’s 'Psych'o (which was covered by Perkins band Beasts of Bourbon around 1993 – “29 years ago” says Perkins) which is brilliant, just brilliant.

The night ends on a Rolling Stones cover called 'The Worst' and I decide the night is one the best in this beautiful venue that is the Regal Ballroom.


as seen at the au review

http://www.theaureview.com/melbourne/tex-perkins-and-the-band-of-gold-regal-ballroom-170212

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Icehouse take on Hall & Oates


Band: Hall & Oates with support from Icehouse
Date: 2nd February 2012
Reviewed By: Espylyn

The Plenary is rather cool venue for tonight’s double header gig of Icehouse and Hall and Oates and the place was very full for the support band, Icehouse, and so it ought to be. The band played to an enthusiastic crowd starting with their hit Icehouse (a song about two large old mansions in Sydney) then straight into We Can Get Together followed by the big hit Crazy. It’s been such a long gap for touring and they did not let us down tonight. The band cruised into Hey Little Girl and it was around here I managed to sneak from my seats near the sound desk to front row (where front man Iva Davies, aka Silver Fox, greeted me with the biggest smile *insert ahh here*) and the show took on a new level. The band were in all in sync and the boys displayed amazing talent and received the applause they deserve. Other songs such as We Can Get Together, Man of Colours (sung mainly by Michael Paynter) followed by Electric Blue (which was written by John Oates) and it was fitting that Oates came out and played guitar and sang Electric Blue with Davies.

Walls got the room pumping whilst Can't Help Myself had punters bouncing out of their chairs and lastly Great Southern Land blew the crowd away. I cannot begin to describe the elation and passion for this band and so far it’s been one of my favourite gigs for a long time which I feel is mainly due to such an absence that the build up of seeing Icehouse live did not disappoint one little bit.

So, after my high of seeing Icehouse, it was time to get ready for the main act. As soon as Daryl Hall and John Oates entered the stage, a couple of hundred punters couldn't help themselves and they grasped the opportunity of getting closer to the boys and ran down to side of stage to dance (the fact you cannot dance here makes the venue not particularly suited to tonight's gig, and I think A Day On The Green may be the better way to witness the band), but everyone seemed to be having a great night and the security certainly had their work cut out for them! It’s been 20 years since Hall and Oates graced our stage and they mentioned this a few times proclaiming that it wouldn't be as long next time. The crowd went bananas tonight as the boys launched into Man Eater, Out of Touch and Adult Education. Six band members proved they all have the right moves to bring to us the music of Hall and Oates; Charlie on sax, Paul on guitar, Elliot on keys, Clide on bass, Brian on drums and Brad (looking amazing) on percussion. Hall calls some of their music Rock and Soul which is rather fitting I thought and he tells us that there are songs they have played at every single gig they have ever performed such as the hit She's Gone. I can't Go For That brought on the encore but it wasn't long and boys were back singing Rich Girl where tambourines glowed in the dark and after another encore the night ended on Kiss On My List which resulted in one fan getting on stage to give Oates a huge hug, it really showed the love for this band as after that, people poured into the aisles and danced the night away. The one thing I was surprised about is that for a band that have spanned across many generations, they didn't play for all that long....

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Soundgarden take on the Bowl

Band: Soundgarden
Venue: Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Date: 1st February 2012
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Soundgarden opened the night with Searching With My Good Eye Closed and the roof of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl was brought down with utter adulation and passion for a band that is well respected and much loved. It had been way too long between gigs and when they announced a comeback, thousands of fans grabbed the opportunity to witness the hysteria again. The weather proved to be on our side tonight with clear skies revealing the stars, moon and bats. Into Spoonman and Jesus Christ Pose they band went where Chris displayed a voice that is extraordinarily talented and strong whilst the other band members - Ben, Matt and Kim gave us amazing bass strutts, drums that pounded into the night and guitar bursts to inspire one and all.

A screen was on stage behind curtains at the back and it opened and closed throughout the night and most of it displayed stuff of the 'why bother' kind (except the eye, I heart eyeballs), but with Black Hole Sun the eyeball changed into the sun and from then on the images that burst out were desirable.

Other songs include 4th of July, Loud Love, Hunted Down and The Day I Tried To Live. Twenty songs completed the over two hour set list and punters went home exclaiming over one amazing night performed by a legendary Seattle band.

BTW I think most of the punters around me when home with passive smoking of the stoner kind! oh and the singers name is now Lance!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

High Flying Noel Gallagher

Band: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Venue: The Palais Theatre
Date: 31st January 2012
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (formed in 2010) brought with them tonight every English and Irish person from St Kilda and through strobe light after strobe light, we witnessed a 'Gallagher' in action.

A totally sold out crowd pumped the place with passion and uber enthusiasm. Drinks were poured into plastic cups at Noel's request, which tells me he is a paranoid man and I guess with his past, one cannot blame him.

Moving on from his past though.....tonight Noel displayed to punters he is a talented musician. Gracing us with hits off his solo album as well as a few Oasis tracks, the songs all got the crowd leaping out of their seats and into a dancing frenzy.

"Don't Look Back In Anger" ended the night on a total high. Merchandise was sold out before the show was over and those who weren't blinded by the strobe lights were surely blinded by the Gallagher's performance.