Bendigo and Ballarat and Powderfinger = mudfest

Band: Powderfinger with support from Jet and Paul Dempsey

Venue: Bendigo and Ballarat Big Top

Date: 15th and 16th October

Reviewed By: Espylyn

Mud, a chance of rain and uber cold temperatures didn't hold off the fans of Powderfinger in either town of Ballarat and Bendigo. A big top tent welcomed us into its lair and into the warmer area underneath we flourish, our gumboots displaying the proud moments of sloshing through the mud without falling in it, and as I head to the front I am amazed at the room available to watch the show. Both nights it seems the punters prefer to stay behind the half way mark and drink, this is because the front section is a no drinking zone with a few punters under ten years of age. Suited me as drinking would mean me clambering through the mud to the port-a-loo's in the cold so the drinking thought went out the head quickly and the trying to get a tad closer was looking good. Once position I watched the rock band that is Jet, ( I missed Dempsey both nights), and Jet proved they are here to stay with many of us dancing to Jet and singing along to the many hits the band have unleashed. Nic's vocal scream almost sends shivers up the spine- how many singers can produce a scream like he does, awesome! Playing all the old and new hits with applause a-plenty and then we all got ready and in position to witness the almighty boys from Powderfinger.

The band materialize and slowly into Love Your Way before the tempo increases and the full sound takes us all from cruisy to utter mayhem. Bernard Fanning showing us why he is the front-man, owing the microphone and getting the punters singing and clapping and fully engaging throughout the show. Darren Middleton and Ian Haug unleash their inner guts putting all the work into the riffs and exploding into stances and even jumping up on the speakers. John Collins produces the back beat bass riffs and together with Jon Coghill who ties the band together on drums.

Screens behind the band display various images as songs are sung, Burn Your Name, Sunsets and Lost and Running all have various displays whether it be lanterns, sunsets or the like. Laser's shoot out over the crowd and throughout the show it's lights, lasers and images.

Other songs include Sail The Wildest Stretch, Thrillology, Already Gone and then the boys disappear for about five minutes and they position themselves onto the smaller stage in the middle of the Big Top and unleash the tunes Like A Dog and Stumblin' and I almost get the vibe they enjoy playing a small stage again. Bernard can walk around the entire stage and he plays to all of fans on each side, throwing the microphone stand around and strutting his stance. Jon finishes the set with a milking drum solo blended with all guitars then back to the main stage we look as Bernard sings Happiness until the rest of the band are back.

Songs to complete the night include Passenger, Capoicity, Pick You Up, On My Mind and These Days. There was a small difference in song list with each show, but only minor. My Kind Of Scene was sung in Bendigo only.

Bernard likes to have his own names for each town, Bendigoingoff and Ballarussian's and his chuckle after first mentioning these names makes me wonder what other names he has given towns along the way.

Unfortunately the night has to end, out into the mud we head, many punters with no shoes and some covered in mud from the nights festivities, girls singing the songs and even plenty of skipping takes place.

It may be ten years before we see this band again, we can only hope that will happen.

Washington Pleases Five Times

Band: Washington

Venue: The Corner Hotel

Date: 22/09/2010

Reviewed By: Espylyn

The Corner Hotel tonight is graced with screens side of stage and plenty of attitude from Miss Washington. Wicked lights look down upon the stage and I can't help but think they need to remain with the pub as they look great and provide that 'added' atmosphere.

Five sold out shows makes one have big expectations on an artist and the expectations were met. A live voice to make most girls crumble, an attitude to make the nerds squeak and plenty of stage zest blended with the right amount of nervousness.

1997 started the set and other songs in the night include Plastic Bag (newbie - dedicated to Kerrie-Ann), I Hate You ( a song with feeling we're told), Underground (her Will made into a song for when she is gone) and Five and Ten which proved almost too much for Washington when Tim Rogers came and sung it with her - changing the lyrics to aptly applause her album taking on gold sales - Washington hung onto Tim and this got the audience laughing.

I Believe You Liar and Clementine were the other highlights. Washington takes no survivors and with a mature attitude to boot and after five sold out shows, she'll be taking on a bigger venue next time and all of us who went to this smaller shows can look back and smile.

Note : apologies for delay in posting, blame computer issues.

Root! final steamy show at Yah Yahs

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

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

The Night Porter filled us with Mark Lanegan songs

Band: Mark Lanegan
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 7th July 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Mark Lanegan, do I even need to say anymore. If you haven’t heard of him then I feel pity for you. He came with that voice and sang song after song without so much of a spoken peep to the audience, but who cares, its Mark Lanegan. His beady eyes -just opening at times, sweat dripping, drinking gravel after each song and backed up by an amazing guitar playing and backing vox, Dave Rosser.

Kicking off the set with When Your Number Isn't Up was an opener and a half. I would say the entire sold out crowd gulped and gawked at Lanegan with each word he sung. The next hour and a bit was filled with luscious acoustic tunes, carefully sung as though he was remembering each journey behind the lyrics.

Dimples glowing in his cheeks, music roaring in our ears, the dull red glow of the corner lights all took us to another place and when it was over it was time to come back to earth and for the chill in our bones to subside.

A humble man who thanked us for coming and we say “come back soon” to the man that is Mark Lanegan.

Musicians and Comedians come out for a Heartful night out

Band: Heart of St Kilda
Venue: Palais Theatre
Date: 29th June 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

The Heart of St Kilda is a fantastic night out with an eclectic mix of comedians and musicians all striving for one thing, to raise money for the needy at the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda.

Brian Nankervis opened tonight with his jovial banter, getting the ‘party’ started and making sure everyone got to their seats on time. Once the curtains opened it was time to laugh and cry as well as tap the toes and rock to the beat of the music.

Comedians Dave Hughes, Peter Hellier and Greg Fleet showed their true and usual St Kilda jokes, whilst Ethel Chop gave us a ditty on the youth of today. Des Dowling gave a fabulous rendition in a poem about St Kilda whilst Judith Lucy was as usual her amusing self.

The crowd seemed a little on the lull side and when Adam Hills came out he got the crowd reacting, he even got a 10 year old boy to say the ‘f’ work whilst the mother looked on and took photos, and the funniest thing was the boy’s father high fiving him when the boy sat down!

Bands that played tonight included Elle and Jesse Hooper, Archie Roache, Clare Bowditch and then Daryl Braithwaite got the crowd going with the hit tune Howzat. Kutcha Edwards voice is truly amazing and The Frowning Clouds were a highlight of the night, an up and coming rock band that woke up the punters. Paris Wells is just fantastic and then there was Even (the band for the entire night), Mick Thomas, Rebecca Barnard, Stephen Cummings and lastly Tex Perkins. The only downfall of the night was all the slow and listless songs, it would have been better to liven up the acts with some power tunes.

Tonight is the third of such an event and one we hope is around for many years to come, showcasing some worthy talent for a worthy cause, embracing the spirit that is St Kilda.

Alestorm took us on an adventure over the seas....

Band: Alestorm
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 19th June 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

On a mighty full ship we did sail and with a foggy night the band did hail, Alestorm – they came, they took some wenches and drank some mighty fine mead.

A powerful folk Scottish pirate (ooh I love that word) band was cast upon us with their heads a banging and the keytar tinkling and the punters singing onto every word. I’m not sure how ‘metal’ a keytar is, but it gave Alestorm that piratey feel to their music, and we swayed like being on a torturous ship through a thunderstorm.

With songs such as Black Sails At Midnight, Wenches and Mead (a favourite), Keelhauled and Over The Seas I felt like I was smuggled into a pirate party when only a selected few were given the privilege to view.

Punters dressed in their finest pirate outfits along with swashbuckling swords swishing above the mosh pit, it certainly was one of a show. The main dress code of the night was black and more black, but are we surprised.

Wanda Jackson

Band: Wanda Jackson
Venue: The Corner Hotel
Date: 18th June 2010
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Wanda Jackson – the first lady of rockabilly came, sung and kicked some 71 year young booty to all punters at The Corner Hotel tonight. At first the big band behind her pumped up the crowd by giving Wanda an introduction that lifted the roof off and then out she came appearing comfortable, flashing those pearly whites and before too long she threw up the microphone and began with Mean Mean Man which finished with rapturous applause.

She ripped into old and new tunes and satisfied all the crowd who constantly heckled and declared their love throughout the entire set. Anyone would think she has never toured here before with the amount of love and applause in the room tonight!

Wanda spoke about her time with Elvis Presley and how she ‘dated’ Elvis for a couple of years and even wore his ring and she went on to say she did kiss him but laughs and ads “although the person I married is a better kisser”. Meeting Jack White she tells us was an amazing experience and she spoke about her up and coming album due out later this year.

Songs like Fujiyama Mama, Heartbreak Hotel and Chicken on The Ground as well as seducing us with her high vocals and yodelling to boot, it’s fair to say Wanda can rock up there with the best of them.

Punters alike were dressed to impress with their fringes, spots and bows in their hair, lots of rockabilly punters young and older.

After band introductions she went straight into the big hit Lets Have A Party before heading off for a quick break and then back singing more of the Lets Have A Party in the encore.

Wanda really is the atomic bomb in lipstick, hair and the first lady of rock.