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REVIEW | NEIL YOUNG | BIG DAY OUT

February 3rd 2009 03:26

NEIL YOUNG AT THE BIG DAY OUT

It's difficult to find words for the emotional impact this concert took on me. What a fantastic musician, singer and personality Neil Young is. Why was I emotionally staggered seeing/hearing him? The simple answer is - he has been a constant all my life. In fact we used (my older sister) to have a green vinyl bootleg of a concert he gave in 1978 or thereabouts. It had his classics of the day on it, a good deal of rambling philosophy leaning towards preserving the natural world of the time... Mother Nature featured big then, and although she still does, it was his intense rocking soul that cracked through the generations.

Surrounded by younger folk who had spent hours and hours hearing all sorts of great music, Big Day Out crowds in Adelaide certainly took a little while to place Young's sound and appreciate it. A stinking hot day didn't really stop anyone from enjoying the day, it was awesome over all; not the least because so many of Young's songs have been part of the fabric of life for at least thirty years. When he sang Hurricane there was a swell of recognition - it was all on for the massive 30,000 strong crowd. Maybe 6000 of them were my age (mid 40's) and they mostly seemed to be sitting in the shade up the back quietly enjoying the view and the music.

Sure, down the front in the mosh pit some yelled disrespectfully "Play some rock and roll" but they didn't do that for long. Needle and the damage done caused a bit of a quiet riot. One 20-something lad who had been bagging the "old dude" on stage suddenly shut up and sat down on the cool grass. There's always been power and emotion in Young's work. Part of my excitement and enthusiasm was a direct result of watching many younger people hearing some of his classics in the flesh. The songs still mean as much, if not more, today as they did 30 years ago.

The set was dressed with a range of novel fans, hanging letters and golden light. All in all it was an excellent concert and I was just as excited at the end of it as my 15 year old was; and he was very skeptical about the whole idea of an elder statesman of folk rock (nearly as old as his grandfather) until the messages and emotional journeys.

Top quality, no holes barred - beautiful concert.

NEIL YOUNG at BIG DAY OUT? You better believe it. From the festival that brought you the likes of Iggy Pop, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Nick Cave. In 2009, BIG DAY OUT presents legendary guitarist and songwriter NEIL YOUNG –Anti-war protestor. Hall of Famer. Environmental crusader. Instantly recognisable vocalist. Father. Social activist. Filmmaker. Godfather of Grunge. Oscar-nominated songwriter. Crazy Horse. Buffalo Springfield. Crosby, Stills, Nash and…

YOUNG’s 90-minute BIG DAY OUT sets around the nation will crackle into life at 8.30pm on the main stage and are guaranteed to be full of classics. His electric band features long-time cohort and pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, bassist Rick Rosas, drummer Chad Cromwell, guitarist Anthony Crawford and singer/guitarist (and wife) Pegi Young.

For a taste of what you’re in for, check out this hit-heavy setlist YOUNG played at Denmark’s Roskilde festival earlier this year: Love and Only Love; Hey Hey, My My; Powderfinger; Spirit Road; Cinnamon Girl; All Along the Watchtower; Oh, Lonesome Me; Mother Earth; The Needle and the Damage Done; Unknown Legend; Heart of Gold; Old Man; Get Back to the Country; Words; No Hidden Path; A Day in the Life.

Reviews from YOUNG’s string of festival appearances this past European summer have singled the shows out as some of his best in years – pointing to the feelgood singalong moments, the band’s awe-inspiring rock playing and “full-on electric assault”, the moving and “simply harmonious” nature of the “quieter section” of the set, the frontman’s good mood, and the great atmosphere in the crowd.

“NEIL YOUNG is… NEIL YOUNG. How else can it be put? No one else can do this. Live, he’s the greatest, hands down. A cathartic and primal musical experience.” (Epoch Times, July 2008)

Back in the States in October, Spin witnessed this elder statesman of rock kick off his US tour by breathing “new vitality into songs more than three decades old… his set became a veritable greatest hits collection”.

It’s been five years since YOUNG last toured Down Under – and even longer since he delivered such a dream setlist for fans. Who knows when he will be back again? So whether you’ve followed him for years, or you’re in need of a rock’n’roll history lesson, NEIL YOUNG at BIG DAY OUT 2009 is a rarefied experience you can’t afford to miss.

Tickets to his Sydney and Melbourne solo shows and to the Sydney and Gold Coast BIG DAY OUTs were snapped up within hours of going on sale but if you’re quick you may still be able to experience one of the greatest rock and roll experiences of your lifetime at one of the following shows.

NEIL YOUNG SOLO SHOWS

supported by My Morning Jacket

BRISBANE l Wednesday 21 January l BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Tickets: Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au Outlets and Phonecharge 132 849

SYDNEY l Sat 24 January l SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

Tickets: Ticketmaster www.tickemaster.com.au Outlets and Phone charge 136 100

MELBOURNE l Wednesday 28 January l MYER MUSIC BOWL l SOLD OUT!!!

Please go to bigdayout.com for all ticketing details.

NEIL YOUNG AT THE BIG DAY OUT 2009

GOLD COAST l Sunday 18 January l Parklands

SOLD OUT ticket ballot in place

SYDNEY l Friday 23 January l Sydney Showground

SOLD OUT ticket ballot in place

MELBOURNE l Monday 26 January l Flemington Racecourse

BDO website SOLD OUT

Available from Ticketmaster outlets/Phonecharge 136 100, www.ticketmaster.com.au

ADELAIDE lFriday 30 January l Adelaide Showground

Available from Krypton Discs (Glenelg), Mr V Music (Semaphore), Elevator Music (Seaford), Globalize (Rundle Mall, Elizabeth, Noarlunga), Ticketmaster outlets/Phonecharge 136 100, www.ticketmaster.com.au and from our website www.bigdayout.com

PERTH l Sunday 1 February l Claremont Showground

Available from 78 Records (Perth), Mills Records (Fremantle), Planet Video (Mt Lawley), Live Clothing, Malibu Dive (Perth), Bassendean Newsagency (Bassendean), Cellarbrations (Bayswater), Trax (Mandurah), Collins Music (Bunbury), Blue 62 (Busselton), Geraldton CD Centre (Geraldton), Kalgoorlie Sound (Kalgoorlie), Vibes (Albany), Chinatown Music (Broome), Ticketmaster outlets/Phonecharge 136 100, ticketmaster.com.au or go to bigdayout.com for all ticketing details.

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Review, Adelaide Scene, Australia National , Qstage

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REVIEW | Bon Iver | Sydney Festival

January 25th 2009 14:00

Venue: City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney

Date: 22nd January, 2009

Sydney Festival 2009

Bon Iver

Bon Iver are a four piece band, Justin Vernon, Mike Noyce, Sean Carey, Matthew McCaughan, who come from North-western Wisconsin, USA. The force behind the group is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Justin Vernon who has been making heads turn by producing an album, Emma, forever Ago, with very little technology, a few instruments, and realizing an amazingly unique pastiche of sound. The moniker Bon Iver is an Anglicization and purposeful misspelling of the French greeting bon hiver which means good winter - a greeting he came across while watching Northern Exposure*.

These current songs developed out of the turmoil of the break-up of both Vernon’s long-term relationship and his band DeYarmond Edison(1). He stayed in his fathers' cabin, it was winter, and he was recuperating from liver disease. The songs were only meant to be demos to send to record companies to see if they would produce them but they received such an overwhelmingly agreeable response that Vernon decided to put together a band and start performing them. This was no easy task as the main song For Emma, Forever Ago, according to Vernon, needs a chorus of 80 - 500 people; he gets around this by having the audience sing and therefore the song takes on its' own life unique to the vibe of that room.(2)

The sound created by Bon Iver is unique. Vernon’s’ falsetto, which he uses on most songs and is a recent development in his repertoire, brings an angelic quality to the sound and is balanced out by the deeper harmonies of the three other musicians. Together their vocals are reminiscent of the complexities of country rock greats like the Amazing Rhythm Aces, Charlie Daniels Band and the like. Musically there is a mixture of instruments, guitars, organs, two drum kits, and bass guitar but they are not always used in a traditional manner. Quite often the instruments are used to give a percussive dissonant texture and at times the drum kits are played in opposing rhythms building to a powerful, driving, crescendo. As a sound the devises they use are refreshing and their performance is uncomplicated worth seeking out.

Peter McGill

(*) Northern Exposure at Wikipedia
(1) DeYarmond Edison
(2) Pitchfork Interview

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Review, Sydney Scene, Qstage

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Review | All Tomorrows Parties

January 24th 2009 23:56

All Tomorrows Parties

Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
18th & 19th January, 2009.
Sydney Festival 2009

The Sydney Festival 2009 brought an awesome event to east coast Australia by way of ALL TOMORROWS PARTIES (ATP) which is a development in the staging of music festivals. The name itself comes from the Velvet Underground album and song of the same name which was written by Lou Reed. The song was written in response to Reed’s observations of the hangers on in Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour in 1966 of which The Velvet Underground were taking part. (1)

The first of these events was held at Camber Sands, England in 1999 as an alternative to the larger more conventional events on offer. The main ideas were that it would be held in an intimate venue (usually outdoor) and the headline artists, be they musician or occasionally visual, would curate the festival by inviting their favorite performers to perform. In essence it was to be like an insight into the headlining acts own music collection, per se. Another aspect of the event was that originally, being in an intimate outdoor environment, there was an attempt to blur the personal distinctions between artists, producers, and punters. They would all stay in the same accommodation, (2) and they were to be a sponsorship free event.

The headline act and curators for ATP Australia 2009 were Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Australia’s seminal eclectic punk rock outfit and there choice of cohorts was inspiring.

Though it wasn’t possible to see everything on the bill there was plenty to choose from. A diverse mix including electronica - Spiritualized, visual art – Louis Wain, bluesman – James Blood Ulmer, and heavy soul – Afrirampo to name a few.

For the whole line up you can go to the Sydney Festival 2009 homepage. What I can tell you about are the acts I did get to see.

First up was Hoss, a Melbourne hard-rock outfit that pumped up the volume from the start and delivered an abundantly driven rock set, they were powerful and gusty. The Geyer Zone was an instillation in a tunnel which consisted of minimal lighting and a soundtrack that could barely be heard over the bands outside, so for me that was a bit of a lost experience. Michael Gira comes from New York City and was a founding member of the industrial-rock band Swans. In this incarnation he was without a band and performed solo with guitar and vocals. Don’t be fooled by that description though, he’s solo performance consisted of loud and gritty vocals accompanied by distorted gutsy six string brutality. His emotive delivery was well received. Harmonia are a mesh of ex-members of German bands such as Kraftwerk, Neu!, and Cluster. As you can guess their set was resplendent with electronica. They were a welcomed separation to the hard rock on offer. Robert Foster of the Go-Betweens provided an entertaining set with some fine memories of the eighties.

The Saints had not been seen together by Australian audiences since 1977. They rejoined to do a gig celebrating Brisbane’s music in 2008. With the original line-up of Chris Bailey, Ed Kuepper, and Ivor Hay, joined on bass by Archie Larizza. They played exactly what the crowd had come to hear, playing ‘(I’m) Stranded’ and other well known favourites.

The band we all came to see, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, gave a blistering performance delivering all the songs they are celebrated for including “All Tomorrows Parties” and “The Weeping Song”. They were all in fine form and brought the festival to a satisfying crescendo.

That wasn’t the end of the night though. Some stayed on to catch the latter performances that went on until 1:00 a.m. including The Reels.

It must be said that this was an event that will go down in the memories of the lucky few who got to experience it. The Sydney Festival 2009 not only pulled off this coup d'état in festival composition but the support arrangements were also first class. The venue, who could beat Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour on one of Sydney’s glorious summer days, the food was way out of the ordinary, the beverages were affordable and of high quality, and there wasn’t a line-up of more than 10 people for any of these necessities as well as the amenities and most of the time there was no line-up. I congratulate Sydney Festival 2009 for achieving such a high standard in celebration – it was an excellent event and a huge success!

Peter McGill.

(1) Wiki:

(2) Wiki:

Sydney Festival 2009

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Review, Sydney Scene, Qstage

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Drole De Felix | Film Review

January 20th 2009 01:47

Drole De Felix
(FUNNY FELIX)
French with English subtitles

Directors: Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau
Cast: Sami Bouajila, Patachou, Ariane Ascaride, Pierre Loup Rajot.

In just under 100 minutes this gay road film manages a reconstruction of the ghastly stereotypes of People living with HIV/AIDS (plwha) with delightful ease. It also succeeds in reforming a view of the post-modern family, shying away from both gratuitousness or
prudishness when it comes to depicting male same-sex relations, it is a rare must see.

Felix (Sami Bouajila), the title character is a charmingly likable guy who is hooked on morning television soap. He is in a relationship with a teacher around his own age. Reccently his mother has passed away leaving Felix to deal with sorting out her apartment. Her legacy to Felix is a tin box of cash and the address of the father Felix has never met at the other end of the country.

Upon becoming unemployed Felix decides to hitch his way to meet his father. As the journey unfolds the directors of this quietly delightful film create a title for each rambling encounter Felix has along his way.

Sami Bouajila is perfect as the darkly handsome Felix. His performance is pitched just right as he sits and chats about his hiv treatments, runs from aggro murderers, assists a single mother with her kids and explores some beautiful French countryside.

When I saw it many years ago at the Sydney Film Festival, Funny Felix was featured after Rick and Steve - The Happiest Gay Couple in the World, an 8 minute short by Allan Brocka which plays with lesbian and gay stereotypes in a way that either cracks people up or just pisses them off. It won an audience award at Outfest, and deservedly so. It is the very short story of two dykes who visit two queens and ask one to jerk off so the girly dyke can have a baby.

The dykes don't really like the poofs and the guys don't really like the girls. There's a mid-70's Sonny and Cher quality of verbal sparring throughout which I found most amusing. I've always said if they were going to build an intergalactic zoo, like they once did with Judy Robinson in Lost In Space - they'd never put Dykes and Queens in the same enclosure. It just doesn't work in that way; so this was honestly amusing.

The boys go jerk off then the girls go do the turkey baster thing. It's animation with lego-people, very American and crass enough to get hearty laughs out of the audience. As a short preceding FUNNY FELIX it was an excellent amalgam of rhetoric we have been fed over the past decade regarding gay family.

DJ

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REVIEW | MARTHA WAINWRIGHT AUSTRALIA IN NOVEMBER

November 23rd 2008 05:08

REVIEW
Fri 21 Nov, 10pm
The Gov, Adelaide

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT

Martha Wainwright is a wonderful singer and her down to earth personality is always somewhat droll. She bemoaned that she'd spent the day in Adelaide in bed, and joked about the whole serial-killer thing here... until a local shouted out that we were all "glad to see her", when she got the idea it would be best to move on. That she certainly did, without leaving any strange question hanging of why that sort of a joke she simply requested more beers for the band and got on with the show. It was a windy balmy night in serial killer central, and we were out in force to appreciate the great and spirited Martha.

Her new material mixed in with her old, and her voice as ever captures great depth and emotion. Perhaps some of the melodies she naturally resounds creep over from one song to another, but I think it's that lilt and stream of sounds that ground her, and us in the listening.

I couldn't say I've seen her all by herself before, so I did hanker for moments in the past when I've seen her in concert with brother Rufus and mother Kate, or on stage for Came so far for beauty at the Opera House in 2005. However having said that - she held her own without the need of any support as such, and the support she received from the band was excellent.

I think everyone at The Gov had themselves a great and adorable time in spite of a cold and windy night, Martha shared the great resonance of her warmth and noone went homew without a special glow.

David Jobling

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT IN AUSTRALIA NOVEMBER

I interviewed her brother Rufus when he was over and the two of them were doing the Leonard Cohen Tribute, Came so far.... Make no mistake both siblings are great on stage and I'd say it's because they have both been involved in the music and entertainment industry on account of their show biz folks, since they were kids. This will be a concert not to be missed.

David Jobling

“Martha Wainwright excels at both singing and songwriting, and earns herself a spot among this decade’s foremost performers.” Popmatters.com

“…a grand, glowering gravitas – part Patti Smith, part Leonard Cohen” Uncut Magazine

“…taking music and wringing from it a startling wealth of shiver-inducing moments.” Pitchfork Media

“Wainwright moves amid prettily finger-picked folk-rock and more eccentric arrangements” NY Times

“…her stage presence suggests several things at one time - defiant and strong, yet with an edge of sadness and vulnerability as well.” Spin Magazine

As part of the famous Wainwright/McGarrigle musical dynasty, Martha Wainwright was engulfed in a sea of music from childbirth. But the Brooklyn-based chanteuse has cemented her claim as a bona-fide artist in her own right.

Following the release of her sophomore album, I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, Martha Wainwright and her full band are returning to Australia in November 2008.

Disbanding her initial career choice as an actor when she realized her priorities lay with songwriting, the Montreal native moved to New York City where her burgeoning singer-songwriter career began. Performing in bars and coffee-houses across the city, her signature raw stage presence blossomed and bloomed into the rousing live performer we see today.

With a constantly changing timbre of depth, Wainwright displays a remarkable polarity between songs of harrowing despair that also show a sense of spontaneity and playfulness. It is this striking mixture of light and shade and her ability to conceptualize, tackle and achieve dynamic arrangements that marry so beautifully with her heartfelt lyrics of remarkable candour and acrimonious humour.

She can, within a single verse, play both angel and demon.

On Wainwrights’s second album, I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, she is joined by legendary figures including Pete Townsend, The Band’s Garth Hudson, Donald Fagen from Steely Dan, as well as Rufus, mum and aunt Kate and Anna McGarrigle respectively, and cousin Lily Lakin - another rising star of the lineage. Though an impressive lineup, they serve as a backdrop to what is a compelling one-woman show.

Embarking on a European tour with her band in October before heading to Australia, this show is one not to be missed.

AUSTRALIA TOUR DATES – OCTOBER 2008
Wed 12 Nov Enmore Theatre, Sydney
ticketek.com.au 132 849
Thu 13 Nov The Forum, Melbourne
ticketek.com.au 132 849
Sat 15 Nov Meeniyan Hall, Meeniyan
lyrebirdartscouncil.com 03 5664 9239
Tue 18 Nov The Tivoli, Brisbane
ticketek.com.au 132 849
Wed 19 Nov Wrest Point, Hobart
wrestpoint.com.au 1300 795 257
Fri 21 Nov The Gov, Adelaide
thegov.com.au 08 8340 0744
Sat 22 Nov Fly By Night, Fremantle
moshtix.com.au 1300 438 849

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Review, Live, Adelaide Scene, Australia National , News, Qstage

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REVIEW | History of the world in photographs

October 29th 2008 10:25

The Encyclopaedia Britannica/Getty Images
“History of the world in photographs”
published by Black Dog & Lev,
distributed by Bookwise International,
RRP $59.95

The Encyclopædia Britannica was born in 18th-century Edinburgh during the Scottish Enlightenment. Colin Macfarquhar, a printer, and Andrew Bell, an engraver, decided to create an encyclopedia to serve the new era of scholarship and enlightenment. They formed a Society of Gentlemen to publish their new reference work, hiring twenty-eight-year-old scholar William Smellie to edit it. The first edition of the Britannica was published one section at a time, in fascicles , over a three-year period, beginning in 1768. The three-volume set was completed in 1771 and quickly sold out.

Mark Getty co-founded Getty Images, Inc; in 1993, with Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Klein. Getty Images are a leading provider of imagery and related products and services which means they generate salable visual content for the advertising, graphic design, news, publishing and entertainment industries; however this book is deservedly marketed as a fine resource for anyone with an interest in history, photography or journalism from students to academics including mum & dad.

Together these publishing giants have created a massive storage facility of images that may be can browsed, including photographs of such luminaries as writer Anton Chekhov in 1901 (CD ROM) or actor Humphrey Bogart facing the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947 (Book). Additional to the actual photographs which range from black and white to full color, there is a chronological time line throughout the book written in text and displayed on the header and footer of each page.

The chronological time line text has been prepared by the editors and writers at Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Design Team has created an uncluttered look, brimming with an average of five images per page. Graphic icons are used to signify different keywords such as History, the Arts, Business & Commerce, Religion, Philosophy and Technology. One may take the non-linear approach and browse any individual year; and or refer to the completely chronological linear notes at the top and bottom of the page. Identifying numbers correspond beside the photographs on the central area of the page with linear notes at the top or bottom of the page it is logical and easy to understand in design terms. The Graphic icons direct the attention to ‘streams’ i.e. the Arts; the text is concise and is intended to directly inform the image if related to an image, otherwise it is related to breakthroughs in imaging and capturing images.

The CD ROM serves as a gateway to Jamd on line, a remarkably large on line collection of photographs. The Book and CD ROM contain over 20,000 photographs taken between 1850 and the present day. The combination Book and CD ROM are published in 2008; a solid 150 year span of capturing that essential picture that may tell a thousand words. By linking via hypertext to Jamd where there are “Millions of pics, vids and music, jamd into one place ” the amount of images available seems impossible, but it’s true.

The CD ROM itself is a searchable picture library set out with a non-linear no nonsense interface that provides options to view thumbnail, small or large sized images from the collection stored within it; and it provides the link which will automatically open your internet browser and deliver it to the ‘consumer oriented web suite on line’ Jamd URL.

Over all this is a striking, accurate and great collection of work; a fascinatingly enjoyable book to go over again and again.

David Jobling

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Review | POEM OF KUNGFU

October 28th 2008 08:24

EVIDENTLY THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Review | Poem of KungFu - Nine Scrolls

Star City Theatre – Star City Casino, Sydney
Thursday, 23rd October, 2008.

Poem of Kung-Fu is a journey through nine scrolls, Purity; Sutra; Diligence; Intelligence; Listening; Shape; Calmness; Devotion; and Paradise. The director, Liu Zhen, has created an exciting mix of martial arts, dance, and story telling that gives an insight into the touching journey of a young monk from his initiation, through the hardship of a lifestyle which is fraught with peril, to his self-realisation.

Kung-Fu is a generic term for the martial arts of China and is most notably known as Shoalin Kung-Fu. Originally called Ch’uan Fa which means ‘fist way’ it was known as a combat art in various parts of China until it began to develop in the Shoalin temples by monks whose main purpose for being in a monastery was to take refuge from the law. There were five styles of Kung-Fu which evolved in five Shoalin temples located in five provinces. Later it divided into two distinct schools, north and south, which was relevant to the two strongest Chinese cultures, Mandarin in the north, and Cantonese in the south. The style of movements became directly related to the physiology of the practitioners, that being those in the south using low stances and kicks with fast hand techniques because of their shorter stature, and those from the north developed restricted hand movements, due to the nature of their thicker clothing necessary for warmth, and strong leg movements including acrobatics with multiple kicks.

In this production there are twenty seven performing practitioners who will amaze you with their athleticism and precise techniques which have been orchestrated into a dance and movement work of art. There are several main artists leading each segment and two principal performers around which the story revolves, Master Li Brolin, the guiding monk, and Maio Shuaifeng, the apprentice, who at just ten years old accomplishes everything the elder monks execute and more.

Each Scroll is preceded by a potent narration told by actor Tony Barry and expressed in music by pianist Ester Balasch Lozano and vocalist Cherie Valaray. Poem of Kung-Fu is an awe inspiring work, an exciting night at the theatre with astounding physical feats through a poignant journey with humour and insight – a great nights’ entertainment!

Peter McGill

Star City are proud to present for the first time ever in Australia

POEM OF KUNGFU - Nine Scrolls

- a spectacularly original dance theatre piece direct from Beijing that combines Chinese KungFu with Chinese dancing.

This award winning production will take you on an historical and cultural journey featuring 27 performers, including 10 year old Miao Shuaifeng and star of the show Li Bolin, extraordinary physical movements, original dance routines amid a sea of vivid colours.

POEM OF KUNGFU - Nine Scrolls will be seen at Star Theatre for a limited season opening on Thursday 23 October.

POEM OF KUNGFU will be directed by well-known Chinese Body Art Master Liu Zhen who explains:

We have chosen to call this POEM OF KUNGFU Nine Scrolls because poetry is like Kung Fu, it can be abstract and real at the same time. The Nine Scrolls (Purity, Sutra, Diligence, Intelligence, Listening, Shape, Calmness, Devotion, Paradise) are presented like a poem of prose taking the audience on a journey through joy, sadness, anger, euphoria; one moment mystical, full of grace and whimsy, the next powerful and dramatic.

Life's daily rituals, such as the simple act of drinking a bowl of soup are transformed into a magical experience that will have audiences laughing one moment and gasping the next as they witness the masterful choreography and daring exploits of these highly skilled performers.

Venue: STAR THEATRE

Star City, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont

Preview: Wednesday 22 October 2008

Season: Thursday 23 October

Performances: Wednesday to Saturday 8pm; Saturday 2pm; Sunday 2pm & 6pm
Prices: $49.90 to $79.90 plus special Schools price $39.90
$199 Family of four includes full gourmet Buffet

Bookings: 1300 795 267or ticketmaster.com.au
Groups of 8 (02) 8512 9020

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Review, Live, Sydney Scene, Qstage

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REVIEW | Phillip Johnston & the Coolerators

October 9th 2008 01:06

Phillip Johnston and the Coolerators

VENUE: Riverside Theatres

DATE: Sunday 4 October at 7.30pm 2008

Parramatta Riverside Theatres

Phillip Johnston is originally from the U.S.A. and now lives in Australia. He is an accomplished saxophonist as well as being an arranger and composer of jazz and contemporary music; he has also composed for a multitude of genres such as silent film, theatre, and dance and been the force behind the ensembles the Microscopic Septet (whose back catalogue was re-released in 2006 by Cuniform Records), Big Trouble, and The Transparent Quartet. He recently collaborated with Hilary Bell, who wrote lyrics, on the silent film soundtrack Faust by F.W. Mumau, and has taught composition at the Steinhardt School of Music at New York University.

Sam Golding on the tuba adds a dynamic bass note that accentuates the swing elements and balances the timbre of the group. His musical interests include Senegalese Mbalax, Cuban Son, Caribbean Steel Pans, Cabaret, Symphony Orchestras, Classical Brass Trios and Classical Hindustani Bansouri, and Reggae. Other groups he has performed with are Jackie Orszaczky’s Budget Orchestra, Chosani Afrique, Monsieur Camembert, Sydney Conservatorium Big Band, Nadya Golski and the 101 Candles Orkestra, The S-Bend, and the Sydney University Orchestra.

jazz and swing with a splattering of funk
that is all class
Peter McGill

Toby Hall's percussion provides an abundant backbone for the quartet. Highly sort after as a drummer he has worked with the cream of Australian jazz musicians, Don Burrows, Paul Grabowsky, Bernie McGann, Phil Slater, and Vince Jones amongst the mix. He has also been engaged by top international artists such as Charles Mingus, Doug Cameron, and Sheila Jordan. Hall’s ability to play intuitive intricate rhythms and time signatures on the backbeat with distinctive and stylish elegance is an exciting feature of the group. His personality on stage also brought a welcome element of humour to the night’s entertainment.

Alister Spence is well known on the Australian jazz circuit with his group the Alister Spence Trio. He is a pianist and composer of renown and has also worked with Don Burrows and Bernie McGann, as well as a diverse range of Australian music luminaries like Ed Kuepper, Archie Roach, Paul Capsis, and Dale Barlow. He co-led the internationally recognised Clarion Fracture Zone and has contributed richly to the Australian recording industry with many of his contributions winning Australian Jazz Album of the Year.

Phillip Johnston and the Coolerators are consummate musical artists, they present a unique style of jazz performance that is relaxed, smooth, and eloquent with phrasing that bursts forth intricate improvisations in jazz and swing with a splattering of funk that is all class - for the uninitiated and jazz aficionados alike a delight to imbibe.

Peter McGill

Band Website

Band Members
Phillip Johnston: alto, soprano saxophones
Alister Spence: organ
Steve Arie: bass
Toby Hall: drums
The Coolerators is a Sydney-based quartet, led by New York expatriate Phillip Johnston, combining the organ-based “groove jazz” style identified with Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack Macduff & Dr. Lonnie Smith with more contemporary and idiosyncratic influences.

The repertoire features originals and reinvented cover tunes. It features some of Sydney’s best-loved jazz musicians: Alister Spence, organ, Steve Arie, bass, and Toby Hall, drums.

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Review, Live, Sydney Scene, News, Qstage

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WICKED | Vale | Rob Guest

October 3rd 2008 22:04

VALE | Rob Guest (1950 - 2008)

Much loved and greatly talented thespian Rob Guest has passed away. He had been at home with his partner Kellie Dickerson, Wicked's musical director, when he collapsed about 10pm on Tuesday. In true theatre style, the show must go on, and so the Wicked cast did it with 'Guesty' in heart and mind as understudy Rodney Dobson played the Wizard, the role Guest had been performing.

Guest, 58, suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday evening in Melbourne and died early Thursday in St Vincent's Hospital after he was taken off life support, surrounded by family and friends.

The first unexpected news reports revealed his condition to be extremely grave; family, friends and fans drew their best attentions towards the well traveled actor and singer who started his life journey in England and was awarded an OBE for his services to the New Zealand entertainment industry later in life. Guest found success in USA then New Zealand as a pop star before arriving in Australia to perform in Les Miserables some years ago.

As well as Les Miserables and roles in many other shows, Guest spent seven years in the lead role as the Phantom of the Opera, performing over 2,000 performances.

Guest, relocated to Melbourne from the Gold Coast when he took the role in Wicked.

When he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heav'n so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

The inaugural WICKED DAY will be held on Sunday 26 October 2008 at the Regent Theatre. WICKED will join forces with ANZ and Starlight Children's Foundation to create some WICKED magic for seriously ill children and their families.

This exclusive event includes a never been seen before pre-show experience hosted by Australian Producer John Frost & a ticket to the 1pm performance of WICKED (children are welcome).

Limited tickets available at $250 per head, subject to availability. Proceeds donated to the Starlight Children's Foundation. To book, please contact Ticketek Groups on (03) 9299 9030.

The official companion to the Broadway Musical
Wicked:The Grimmerie
By David Cote

This Hyperion Book is the readers master class to Wicked the stage
musical; it contains the story of the show, how it came together, the songs, the characters in breakdown and a great deal of excellent photography showing various props and set elements. It's more than a superficial look and will delight those already planning to travel
East for the Australian cast version of the show. New musicals are not exactly rare – but ones that actually entertain an audience and provide something new and engaging don't come around all that often. As one follows the yellow brick road to Wicked early on in the book it's made clear The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is the initial
inspiration to Wicked (first the novel, then the stage musical) and
much is made of the timeless characteristics of that original font of
all things Oz.

The question 'Are people born wicked?' drives the subtext of the musical and to some degree it begs the answer 'Are people born American?!' which is not to suggest that Americans are wicked, but that the story is very American, and a fascinating reflection on the shifting standards and morals between the satirical original Oz stories and today's inspired revisiting of that wondrous place.

Wicked: The Grimmerie will provide solid insights for High School Drama students as well as anyone who wants to study theatre production or get swept up in the strikingly green world of Elphaba (she destined to become the Wicked Witch) and her salad days.

David Jobling

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Review, Live, Melbourne Scene, News, Qstage

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Tripple J Vault to go!

September 30th 2008 13:53

REVIEW |

Live at the Wireless | from the vaults |
VOLUME 2

As a community radio broadcaster, and the music library coordinator for the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) for five years I never imagined Silverchair and The Herd would be likely to end up on the same compilation CD, and yet here they are.

I'm not a big fan of the Silverchair lads, I like the music but I think the band are a bunch of arseholes (because) I appeared as an actor in their film clip for Emotion Sickness a few years back, and got fully ripped off, they never paid me, they didn't even provide me with a copy of the finished video which was a promise that they'd made... so I consider them quite cheap nasty abusive users.

I do like The Herd a great deal, and would happily appear in a video for them and I wouldn't care if I were paid or not because, that's how much I enjoy what they've brought to the table as far as new Australian music is concerned.

I have decided it's the mark of a good compilation album to have tracks that I wouldn't usually listen to getting played as I figure out what I'm going to say about it. This Tripple J compilation is the follow up to Volume One... and it's a good overview of the sort of music Tripple J does best; live recordings of in-house broadcasts or special concert gigs set up by the national youth broadcaster.

The range of material on this album is fun to listen to without seeming it's a paint by numbers glimpse of recent Aussie music; in fact it's not all Aussie music, which is also pretty cool and some of it is not so recent. The Ramones (from the 1980's), Iggy and the Stooges (2006), Xavier Rudd (2004) all have a moment on the album, and there is some doubling up on the special DVD that's part of the pack. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is an inspired inclusion and brings the decidedly harsher energy of the opening tracks down enough to be ready for Josh Pyke directly after her.

Obviously the production values are tops on this compilation, after all these are recordings in a radio station studio or by hot producers who work in the same, and there's a strong feeling of it being live, which I love. It's something to do with the way the sound is resonating, the artists are breathing, the words are rich with vibrant now-ness...

Until the aforementioned Josh Pyke more or less makes a bit of a dick out of the situation by announcing that it's "Tripple J's Live on the Wireless", d'oh.. yeah.. right?

I like Josh Pyke, but only when he sings, so again it's kind of amusing to have to think twice for a moment.. like, I'm listening to a CD eh? NOT the wireless... but again, he sings so well I'll forgive his mild outburst of stating the bleeding obvious because Memories and Dust is one of my favorite songs out of the Pyke songbook, and Josh himself is not responsible for leaving the random announcement on the CD.

1981 at the Governors Pleasure, and The Sunnyboys start to lick their steel electrics and shine up the twangy sounds that kept them buoyant for the best part of that decade. I love the way some of these tracks separated by a couple of decades vibrate out of the speakers and seem like it's all the same big, amazing gig. The Kaiser Chiefs get the crowds roaring live at The Forum, then there's N.E.R.D. at The Enmore being fabulous and letting the crowd ply the lyrics just as sharply as themselves. That's the really comfy element to the album, the audience are on the ball, be it 2000, 1981 or 2007 the lovers of great music over the decades here have maintained a pretty down with it attitude and they don't go to a concert for a dull time.

Consequently the album rocks with the best of them and really satisfies. I just wanted to mosh around the room saying Hell Yeah! which is fun if you have the right soundtrack, otherwise you may as well be sitting watching sing-a-long-Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and feeling like a dork.

I think this is a truly entertaining album, good for a house party, great for background music and quite fine for turning right up and just chilling out to.

Did I mention there's a DVD included? It is great. Better than great. It's something that is only going to get better as time goes on because eventually it will be what you listened to 'in the day' and it will connect you no matter how old you may be, with the spirit of the happy live presentation of groovy music.

It's a neat little package and I highly recommend you give it a spin.

David Jobling

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Review, CD/DVD, Qstage

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