MusicJournomy week of seeing live gigs in melbourne
July 20th 2009 06:24
13-19th July 2009
so I started the week off at the evelyn. Some nice neo soul trax on the decks from the anonymous trumpet player from 'Simon Wright & the Ecclective'. Next unleash the nugget hits the stage starting off subtly with funky guitar meanderings weaving in and out with the skills of Leigh Fischer on drums. The intro develops into a sweet groove as the rest of the band joins in, 2 BVs(one guy one girl) bass, keys, gat and drums. Enter two Mcs, brothers from Tasmania who spit about fit girls who resemble wookies, being the bomb and general party hip hop. But hey, it got me on the dance floor.
I had to leave so headed to 'Street Poetics' up the road at First floor. Unfortunately noise complaints have cut this gig to an 11;30pm finish. What the fuck? This is a bar on Brunswick St not a garage in freakn Hawthorn. Where do these wankas of Fitzroy residents get off. Street Poetics provides an opportunity for anyone to rap over a great band of seasoned pros.
Having the opportunity to see a gig every night in Melbourne is what makes this city world class. Music is its cultural life blood and I sure as hell wouldn't live here if it wasn't. In this time of financial pressure we need outlets for people. Music provides that solidarity. Don't tolerate the Bourgeois!
Wednesday night saw me enter The Gem in Collingwood halfway thru Sime Nugent's first set.
On a cold melbourne winter night The Gem was warm and the music gentle and the words "Are you Strong enough to try" resonated personally, the song ended unresolved.
I'd been warned to expect a smug Nugent, but I only felt cynicism and a weariness of the restless cutlery and perhaps a Dylan schooling. His voice was strong but sweet and the melodies he played on his harp were perfect.
Thursday night I headed to a late gig at The Vineyard in St Kilda. It was an electro pop duo with a guy on a motif keyboard, macbook and synth and pop princess on the mic. They segwayed seamlessly from the music on the house system, so no one could even tell they'd started and although the songs blended into one they kept the dance floor full. I tried to find out the name of the act but none of the staff knew and told me the manager was in charge of that. Hmm. If he's in charge of the PA he should EQ it better too since everything coming through it sounded like AM radio. The patrons (myself included) were all past any kind of reasonable judgment so AM FM who gives a fuck. Lets just shake it bitches.
By Friday night I gotta admit I was feeling my age, but I'm determined to follow through so headed to the 'Royal Derby' on the corner of Alexander Pde and Brunswick St Fitzroy. There members of the 'famous in melbubble' LIttle Red played the endearing songs of pianoman Tom, under the name 'The Cuckoos'. The band sounded great with interesting arrangements and intelligent but humorous delivery. Reminiscent of '50s Doo Bop and good ol fashioned Rockn Roll, short but sweet songs like 'Nadine' and 'Clementine' solidified my suspicion that these guys are romantics.
Saturday night I ventured to The Horn of Africa. A small Ethiopian Restaurant & beer house just off Smith St in Collingwood. The aptmoshere was mostly friendly and the traks played by Next Stop Automatic were an interesting blend of dub, reggae and Electronica. This one man sound machine uses a chaos pad and delay pedals to manipulate his ready made traks. It was cool if not groundbreaking and he stayed on to jam with MC Julez and his backing band a 3 piece consisting of members of Brisvegas soul funk technicians Kafka & dj collective Smoko. Mc Julez has a conscious flow and despite the usual hiphop too cool for school attitude from members of the audience he stayed true to his own vision of "freedom of speech for all" even when dissed by 'Anon speak' an average Hiphop duo who filled the set break.
Sunday saw me finish my seven day intensive with Alex Burns at the 'Drunken Poet ' in North Melbourne. With a beautiful collection of guitars and a yukele all played with utmost skill and respect, it was refreshing to see an experienced lover of music pay tribute to songs that had seen him through. Some written in his favourite year 1927, as well as classics such as "im gonna sit right down and write myself a letter' and Tina Turners 'Wild about you baby'. He was joined by a double bass player and the sound was authentic and Australian.
A friend of mine suggested I was going to get alot out of my week of gigs, and I really did. Not only was it great to see a range of live Australian musicians doing what they love, I also experienced different audiences. Audiences who are integral to the survival of music as a live art form. I feel we have alot to let go of in this fair city as audience participants and being shy of showing appreciation would be a great start. You don't have to be drunk to whoop, holler and clap your gratitude for artists who put themselves out there, though for some people it helps and bars need you to buy alcohol. But being conscious of what is happening in the room and reacting positively to music is going to ensure everyone has a good time for a long time. Peace Punters!
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