Culturazi

ZooPaGoo and Party Gravy at The White Eagle Club 3rd May 2013
by Geoff Dunn. Photos by Brian Rosenberg 

Is there anything better than live, well produced funk? Anything that starts a foot tapping? A tapping that quickly becomes a stomp and a uncontrollable urge to groove? Actually I can think of a few things that are way better but last night live, strutty funk was where it was at. Party Gravy … now there’s a name for a band. Gravy … thick, rich and fragrant. The sauce that enhances and helps the flesh go down. Such a lot to live up to… did last night’s gravy boys deliver?

They did. Featuring not one, but two drummers meshing like smooth cogs in a drive train effortlessly entwined with tight and solid bass, easily providing a Hard-Bop groove for alto sax, two trumpet and two trombone. Rounded out nicely with vocals, the 8-piece delivered wellcrafted numbers that slowly but steadily filled the room. My favourite were the horn solos, with a trumpet solo performed by Ax Long a bright and colourful affair with excellent diction and stabs.

They had slinky dancers. I like slinky dancers. Interval saw us back at the bar … it seems tonight’s beer of choice is the Perla Chmielowa Pils – a crisp, dry brew with extra hops and a kick I didn’t really feel until this morning. Thank you to the friendly bar staff who helpfully assisted with navigating the extensive range of Polish beers and vodkas.

I was sitting having a chat with Simon at the entry desk when ZooPaGoo took the stage. Listening through the curtain I was immediately impressed with the engine room of this band. The drums, combined with strong and dextrous bass produced a NY/Chicago strut that demanded attention. Keys that reminded me of fleshy orange marmalade, rich with texture provided deep colour and flavour to the mix. Local wah-guitar legend, the fez-adorning Zedman, added gravy all of his own. Sax and trumpet comprised the horn section and though they stabbed, swooped and dived in sync, I felt they missed their third member to fill out the mids. The horn solos were bright and left me wanting more which was a pity as they seemed a bit far between.

But that’s quibbling really. Original songs were interspersed with funk classics. There was a little roughness at times but their interpretation of Johnny Guitar Watson’s Ain’t That A Bitch was masterly with well executed stabs and changes. That one was a real pleasure … a great track preformed with gusto and stagecraft. Vocals shone with Sean ‘Funklestiltskin Chickenstrut’ providing the all important stage presence required of street funk done good. The band was joined on stage by a cohort of more slinky dancers from the floor toward the end of their set.

While the members of ZooPaGoo aren’t bad looking … the dancers easily enhanced their stage presence. I took no photos but there were two DSLR-wielding snappers and numerous phone-heads who I’m sure got some of the great pictures that were to be had on the night. Sound was handled very nicely by Dave with responsive attention to detail and clear, well articulated sound. Nice work Dave. Lighting was used to dramatic effect by both performers and lighting desk (also by multi-talented Dave)My friend and I arrived late around 9:45pm after enjoying ourselves elsewhere (unthinkable I know!) there was a DJ playing when we arrived but I only caught the last track … it sounded good but I can’t really tell you any more about them.

The Polo, strong beers, fine company mixed in with ZooPaGoo’s funk-stuff and Party Gravy’s Hard-Bop grooves made it a memorable, if blurry, night. Thanks to Nigel and the CMC for the double pass and the opportunity to write a review for you.

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Friday 12 April 2013, Polish Club
By Alice Cottee

(Disclaimer: I am not a writer) (Editor’s note: Tosh)

The night began in cosy fashion, dining at Tudo for my fella’s birthday. Being across the road from the Polish Club, I could almost taste the psychedelia of Nozl through the glutton inspiring pan-fried chicken wings and lemongrass chilli prawns. Had I actually been punctual at this CMC event, the previous description may have been more akin to a late seventies opiate filled teen pool. We will never know.

What can I say of Nozl? That the band’s universal pope-like attire arouses a sense of virginal longing, mixed with a certain moistness for big wheels? If Nozl were an overgrown reptile (suborder Lacertilia or Sauria), they would certainly be known as Nozilla.

The brass filled boom of Party Gravy birthed the soundtrack of me almost shitting myself with the nerve of asking a certain someone an eternal question. This was my first viewing, and damn were they tight! I mean, considering half the band were ring-in’s that night. As usual, the wry swagger of Andrew Kimber led his brass army down party lane with style. The dancers excitedly whisked themselves together, to make a formidable gravy (Ed: or marinade perhaps?) of sweat and pheromones.

While on the topic of hormonal virtuosity, shall we introduce: The Monotremes. The band, of which I was also a virgin (so many virgins!), topped the evening with precise perfection. I once suggested to Adam Cook that he compose a sleeping bag symphony, after minutes of trying to get comfortable inside one as I lay meters away in a feverish delirium. And you know what – the lad probably COULD. Genius! And TWO keyboards! Eat your heart out, multiple drum-kit wielding indie-metal-prog-rockers. The set delivered a sort of nostalgic adventure back in time. Acid, anyone? Songs like ‘Sound Newts!’ hinted at the brilliance of my faves Frank Zappa & Mr Bungle. Track two was invaded by a daring lass, who had the nerve to sing a Jazz standard (‘Night & Day’, Cole Porter … OK so not so standard). The victim of this serenade, Sean Smeaton (of Zoopagoo fame), sat unsuspecting; as the crazy broad then went on to pop the question.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?!?! You ask?

Well, he said yes of course. I MEAN HAVE YOU SEEN THAT RACK. (Ed: Yes, yes I have)

The newly engaged were then forced to interpretive dance their way through ‘The Cubist’, while being circled by the tribal dancing of Chanel Cole. The groom to be then went on to drink about a bazillion honey vodka shots, which has got to be a good thing. Right? (Ed: Congrats to the happy couple)

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Matt Dent Album Launch – “Welcome to the Sky”
Saturday April 20, 2013, Polish White Eagle Club

An intimate yet lively audience attended the launch of Matt Dent’s greatly anticipated debut LP “Welcome to the Sky” at the Polish Club in O’Connor, home of the Canberra Musician’s Club. The show kicked off with popular roots duo Beth n’ Ben, who entertained the crowd with their strong vocals, tight harmonies and wicked grooves. Sanjiva and The New Gods of Thunder were up next with an eclectic mix of music inspired by hip-hop, roots and country. The charismatic Sanji proved to be an excellent front man and was well supported by his band made up of members of Fun Machine and Hashemoto.

photo by Brian Rosenberg

Matt Dent, the man we’d all been waiting for, then took the stage to showcase songs from his debut LP “Welcome to the sky”, an album of original songs that Matt feels has captured the heart and soul of Aussie pub rock fused with elements of roots, folk and blues. Citing his musical inspirations as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Neil Finn, Matt delivered a great performance with a powerful voice, rhythmic guitar and stomp box for a few solo tunes and was later joined by double bassist Ed Radclyffe from the Fuelers and drummer Sam McNair, who both added an excellent feel to Matt’s dynamic and accessible songs! Stand outs included the uplifting “I Believe”, rocky tune “The Kids” and of course “Welcome to the sky” with its catchy melody and insightful lyrics. Look out for Matt Dent as he gigs around town and check out his website and FB page.

Jenny Sawer and James Halligan

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The Woohoo Revue @ The Polish Club, Thursday 18th October, 2012 with Nyash
Review by Jeremy Woodhill

Thursday at the Polo provided some Afrobeat grooves with Nyash producing some Fela Kuti covers (Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, and pioneer of Afrobeat music) with a typically James Brown line up using dual rhythm guitars and a three-piece horn section. The alto sax had to work hard to be heard – sandwiched between the big sounds of a bari-sax & trombone combo but for their second gig the sounds were pretty good. Drums, aux percussion and electric bass provided a driving rhythm section. When the horn section blew the tune head-lines it sounds like a happening machine but often the music did drift into more of a “player’s band” with long winded solos and some loose grooves around the melodies leaving the listener wondering where it was all going and whether to dance or sit and watch. There were some novel sounds including Japanese rock pop and a Polish ska tune, which was v-cool.

Woohoo Revue gave their usual polished Balkan/gypsy/swing/jazz style performance.  Sporting a (temporarily) one-arm drummer no less (with a broken wrist), who sounded better than most (perhaps he’s been watching Def Leopard!) tackling some impressive drum solos single-handed! A typically folky driving rhythm guitarist sporting a top hat and a beautiful 12-string guitar provided a coherent foundation for the wild melodies of the three-piece melody section comprised of a violin, trumpet and alto sax player. Backed by a female bassist in the rhythm section who sported a fashion style typical of Bowie, Prince and Jackson with fingerless lace gloves the group had a crisp wild-gypsy sound. The violin was really well mic’ed providing a nice clean sound that cut through – not to mention her burlesque gipsy creepy-good violin persona that was a highlight of the band. The wild melodies played in unison made the mind swim and was an impressive spectacle to behold. With elaborate intros on sax and complex and speedy solos by all three including some brilliant trumpet solos and a strong connection to the violinist who’s virtuoso encore violin solo while walking through the crowd, topped off a great performance and great night-out at the Polo once again.

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Jenny M Thomas and The System, The Merry Muse, Friday 17 Aug 2012
by James Ashburner

What a horrible day in Canberra. It rained, was bitterly cold and windy. It snowed. But three of Australia’s finest improvising musicians and an upcoming folk band were here.

The support group, The Lucky Wonders, is known for well-crafted songs and good shows. Gee, they’re good. Two singer-writers with guitars, ukulele, and flute, plus electric bass and drum kit. All four know their stuff, and keep the entertainment moving without seeming rushed. They are interesting people, too.

Then it was time for Jenny, Dan Whitton (double bass), and Chris? Lewis? (drums). Sadly a slab of the already small audience had left, why I know not?

Jenny and the lads lead off with ‘Down, Down, Derry Down’, hauntingly arranged for upright piano, drums and bowed bass, with all three singing. Affecting, and intensely musical. The sparse treatments showed me how Jenny, Dan, and Chris are rethinking the music, and ensuring that every note counts.

A new theme of their music is contrasting textures within songs: sparse against dense, slower over faster. Also Chris and Dan have really found their singing voices, which means three musicians using up to three voices mingled with three instruments.

For a decade I have enjoyed Jenny’s visits, and followed her musical journey. Now with The System we have a trio-sextet to take my breath away.

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Peter Woodley CD launch
29th June, Merry Muse @ Turner Bowls Club
by Simon Milman

Another frosty ass Canberra evening provided the perfect weather for a concert of mostly Irish music from flute player Peter Woodley. Peter appeared in various configurations throughout the night, displaying his mastery of the wooden flute and various whistles.

Kate Burke and Pete Wild kicked things off with a short set featuring Kate’s wonderful voice and guitar playing and Pete’s original songs about Candelo. Then Kate played a set of Irish tunes with Peter Woodley and fiddler Sue Hobson, including an original.

From where I was sitting one could smell the trough lollies and the place was a tad chilly as the heaters were not switched on. But I’m no shrinking violet peeps. Where however, I ask thou, was the cheese wheel? A bowlo without a cheese wheel is a sad thing. But a couple of schooners of Tooheys old and I forgot about the cheese and the somewhat lacklustre sound.

Next we had Hoddle – Jaqui and Kevin Bradley with Pete Woodley and Mick Thompson, who presented a very tight set of Irish tunes and one Australian number. There was some great interplay between Jaqui’s fiddle and Peter’s flute and some nice talking bodhran from Mick. Then after a longish break there was a second set from Hoddle, with some double bass and facial hair from Matty Nightingale.

The evening ended with a mix of duos and trios featuring Woodley, including a duo with Mick’s bodhran. Finally I could make sense of Irish music with just flute and drum. A great evening of Irish music, my only criticism would be that it was a bit slow moving and could have been programmed better.

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The Lighthouse Keepers @ The Polish Club, Fri 3rd Feb 2012
by Kitty Sparks

It had all the trappings of a wedding reception… the wedding reception of, say, a distant relative, one with whom you are in touch once a year when sending that obligatory xmas card.

With date and location of venue firmly affixed in your mind, you arrive with slight trepidation, but as soon as you enter the venue… reminiscent of an old high school gym hall from eons ago… and confronted by a wealth of people… that trepidation, those reservations are instantly pushed to the wayside.

Ultimately you are a stranger amongst the throng, with perhaps a second degree association with one or two of the folks who linger about, but even then you can’t help acknowledge the undertones of goodwill and excitement… excitement that is waiting for someone or something to ignite a release.

And as on cue, the Lighthouse Keepers (TLK) take to the stage… the fuse is lit, and within moments a release of euphoria sweeps the room.

Though previously unfamiliar with TLK, what with being a generation too late to join them rocking the casbah of Canberra in the early 1980′s, what I had read of them, and gathered from the associated hype from local community radio station – 2xx, online local music rag BMA… not to mention the general chit chat of friends and work colleagues, meant I could not resist seeing a band who, back in the day, took on that DIY ethos, mixed it with a liberal helping of humour and crafted melodic pop songs with catch cry lyrics – their classic song, gargoyle – case to point.

A painting of Copernicus overlooked the stage, somewhat apt, as indeed TLK were the centre of this reception… it did not take long for a majority of the audience to begin bouncing around, with jangly guitar driven ‘power ring’, getting a majoirty of the masses up, letting themselves go and singing along.

Throughout their three sets (done, I imagine, so band members could interact with friends, family and fans), it was with warmth and memories past that every song was greeted – and their cover of Bo Carter’s ‘Whiskey & Gin’ was met with roaring applause as the opening chords caressed the crowd.

Of course, like any good reception, speeches were to be made… apparently a common occurrence at LHK gigs.  The honour on this occasion fell to (lead guitarist) Greg Appel’s cousin, John.

Whilst one could expect a wedding singer best man speech moment, John’s speech was short, poignant and captured the general vibe of fond memories that enveloped the room, one particular memory drawing loud guffaws when he recalled his underage shenanigans at LHK gigs, cracking onto girls, with one cracking on moment leading to a case of glandular fever.

A memorable evening.

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Would it rain? Perhaps everyone was heading to Majors Creek who decided to host their festival on the same weekend. Still it was summer(ish) and the moon was full although a little late in rising and the time had arrived for another fabulous Backyard Backanalia.

Warming our cockles and tickling our underbellies began with a surprise blackboard appearance by Beth’n'Ben who seemingly go from strength to strength. Maybe it was the matching jeans, vests and sunglasses or maybe it was the plastic carnations that graced Ben’s manly frame, whatever it was the dynamic duo managed to fire up the appreciably large early crowd and set the stage for another musical feast.

And what a feast it was! Rachel Armstrong blew everyone away with her poise and music. Sidney Creswick, recent ACT winners of the campus band comp partied with the younger set and the lettuces in the garden. Owen Campbell, after months overseas, popped in to give us a taste of his brilliant slide guitar and rasping blues while men with ridiculous hats and even more silly capes, Nozl, closed out the louder part of the evening.

The entrees and main courses greedily consumed, it was time for dessert. Despite having to lug her piano by bicycle all the way back from Majors Creek, Bec Taylor managed to get back in time for Hashemoto who enchanted us with another vintage performance.

Of course it wouldn’t be a Baccy without The Cashews. Playing from the balcony they tossed around another helping of nutty goodness aided by an impromptu table dance from Dr Jim Boots.

As the moon got higher the party wound on. The faithful gathered around the fire basking in the afterglow of yet another awesome Backyard Backanalia. Who knows if it really was the last, but it was sublime.

12►

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I know it’s not nice to psychoanalyse little boys when they haven’t asked, Ozzie, but these tantrums of yours are just getting ridiculous and I’m going to have to give you a piece of my mind. Now, it is true that your Mum said she wouldn’t be making you do anything to help out around the house and now she’s saying she’s changed her mind. It’s not unreasonable to have some negative feelings about things like that, but you have to try and understand that, now that Mum has invited Brownie Windsor to stay, Mum and Brownie have to decide things together so you’ll just have to get used it. And it is not ok to call Brownie a kiddie-fiddling pinko pillow muncher under any circumstances. I bet you got that off your father and don’t even really know what it means.

And while we’re talking about your father, you have to understand he’ll say anything to drive a wedge between you and your Mum. Remember him telling you your Mum was no good with money and you’d lose your paper route and your piggy bank would disappear in the middle of the night? Well none of that happened did it? So the idea that you helping out a little tiny bit with the housework will result in you having to share the house with hordes of towel heads and the power only being on when it’s a really sunny day and there aren’t any dirty bombs going off, while it appeals to you because you’re a typically lazy and selfish little boy, well that idea could be all a big porky designed to scare you away from your Mum.

And I know you’re sick of the sound of your Mum’s voice, with all her nagging about responsibility and getting a good education and preparing for the future. It reminds you of being a bit younger and her making you slip slop slap and you were thinking ‘how could the Sun hurt you?’ Your Dad still says, only the other day in fact, ‘nonsense, a bit of sun won’t hurt him.’ I don’t mean to be hurtful Ozzie, but your Dad is an idiot who still thinks the World was made 6000 years ago. And even though he acts like a working class bloke, he’s a total snob who’s forever trying to curry favour with the local business club.

I know, I’m sorry, don’t cry, your father means well. He’s just a bit misguided because he’s angry. He had all these plans for the place and now your Mum and Brownie are doing things all different and he’d rather tear the place down than see it in their image. But if your Dad is being childish, Ozzie, that means you have to grow up a bit faster yourself, start thinking for yourself, and stop being so easily lead by every little whisper of fear and dread that slithers out of your Dad’s lipless mouth. It’s time to accept that you, your Mum, Brownie, you all have a responsibility to look after the place and hopefully leave it a bit better than you found it.

Ok, so Ozzie, I want you to stop crying now. There’s nothing to be afraid of, and if there’s some bumpy track ahead, there’ll be less to be worried about if we get ready and all do our bit now. So I want you to go home in a minute and tell your Mum you’re sorry and you forgive her and give her a big hug. Then I want you to find Brownie and give him a solid hand shake and apologise for being so rude and say you’ll do your best to get on in future. And then you can do your chores and your homework like your mother said and you can all have a nice dinner together, ok? Good boy, wipe your nose, that’s the boy.

Now, Mr Abbott, if you’d like to come in please? I’ll just get my cane ready, please take down your pants and assume the position.

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Present: Jim Boots, John Griffiths, Sharkie

Our guest is Nozl.

Click Play Audio to play podcast. Click here to download

If you’d like to download the podcast, tap this URL: http://the-riotact.com/~john/insban/pod136.mp3 into iTunes or your media player or whatever.

There is a facebook fan page for people to marvel at here.

This link is for people who have podcasting software which you can find here.

Recorded on Tuesday 31st May, 2011.

Click read more for the track list.

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With an upmarket kind of look, the Blue Heron follows through with quite a decent coffee.

A rich, decorated crema gives way to a coffee that is not boring on the palate. Cherry and sour cardboard lilt to it.

I’m here on a quiet day but I have seen this place busy on Saturday with the markets adjacent. Situated on a corner, with a couple of outside tables, smoking is probably frowned upon in a foodie kind of way.

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Present: Jim Boots, John Griffiths, Sharkie

Our guest is Hayley Shone.

Click Play Audio to play podcast. Click here to download

If you’d like to download the podcast, tap this URL: http://the-riotact.com/~john/insban/pod135.mp3 into iTunes or your media player or whatever.

There is a facebook fan page for people to marvel at here.

This link is for people who have podcasting software which you can find here.

Recorded on Tuesday 29th March.

Click read more for the track list.

Read more

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Talk about wait a long time for a coffee. About ten minutes.

I thought I should check out the coffee situation at the new expanded mall and came across this place.

What goes on here apart from coffee is chocolate worship. The coffee is smooth and woody which speaks of good milk. Slack crema. Slack delivery. At least there is also outdoor seating so you can have a smoke while you wait.

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Present: Jim Boots, John Griffiths, Sharkie

Our guest is The Burley Griffin.

Click Play Audio to play podcast. Click here to download

If you’d like to download the podcast, tap this URL: http://the-riotact.com/~john/insban/pod134.mp3 into iTunes or your media player or whatever.

There is a facebook fan page for people to marvel at here.

This link is for people who have podcasting software which you can find here.

Recorded on Tuesday 22nd March.

Click read more for the track list.

Read more

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Two recent New Scientist articles set me a-thinking. The first involved a law suit brought by James Joyce’s estate against renegade biologist, Craig Ventner, for using a Joyce passage without permission. Ventner had inscribed “To live, to err, to fall, to triumph, to recreate life out of life” on the genome of his synthetic life-form. The second explored the possibility of sending bacterial colonists to other planets in the hope of seeding a world full of life like ours.

Surely, thought I, if we are considering sending forth an armada of bacterial pilgrims to infect new worlds, should we not equip them with, not just an apt bit of prose, but rather the sum total of all we know of the Earth, the heavens and ourselves, in some easily decipherable code, squirreled away in a nether corner of their genes? And, given that we have conceived, and very nearly have the capability, of such an undertaking, is it not possible that, millennia ago, residents of another world seeded our own planet in this same fashion and that in our genetic code may reside the truth about our genesis?

Being a living national treasure, my own genes were transcribed some years ago, and I fetched my copy out from under the bed the other day to see if there was anything intelligible therein. Code cracking not being my forte, it took several days to divine the key, but, lo and behold, the moment arrived when an impenetrable mass of random symbols dissolved into a discernible pattern, and before too long I was reading the very words of our progenitors.

I’m keeping them to myself of course, and have applied for a patent, effectively granting me exclusive license to exploit a tome that shall exceed in import any thousand texts one could name, sacred or profane, that have been said to change the course of civilisation. However, while not having read the entire epistle, I have skimmed and skipped through to the end and I feel I should inform you, and here I should issue a SPOILER ALERT, that our ancestors made their desperate gesture for immortality at a time when their world was entirely uninhabitable, from a space capsule orbiting their planet, by the last 5 beings of their civilisation in their last act before life support failed.

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