Category: Music

Events, Music, Performances, Review

REVIEW: Black Arm Band Present DIRTSONG

Musically superb, but connections were lost…

By Anastasia Russell-Head

A palpable sense of anticipation filled the darkened Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre, the diverse audience ready to be transported and transfixed by the music and artistry of some of Australia’s finest Indigenous musicians. And the musicians did not disappoint.

From the country-tinged vocals of Dan Sultan, to the superb and virtuosic didgeridoo playing of Mark Atkins and the soaring harmonies of an a-capella trio led by the band’s artistic director Lou Bennett, the performances were accomplished, heartfelt and beautiful.

Yet I felt a bit let-down by this performance. Having been blown away by the Black Arm Band’s inaugural production, murundak, at the Melbourne Festival in 2006, I was really looking forward to this newer show. Somehow, though, it just seemed to miss the mark slightly, and didn’t have quite the power or the energy of the earlier work.

The musicianship and talent of the performers could not be questioned – both the featured performers and the backing band were top-quality and produced excellent performances all round. The projected imagery on the backdrop was also visually engaging and often poignant.

However, this performance didn’t reach out and grab me. I was not drawn in by the performers. There was no program or translation to be able to understand the songs that, according to the publicity material, were performed in eleven different Aboriginal languages.

That is something that should be celebrated – but it’s meaningless to us, the audience, if we’re not given some context and explanation. The performers were not introduced, and the audience were not given any hint of what the songs meant to the musicians or why they were being performed that day.

It was a pity that more thought wasn’t given to the audience’s experience of this work, as the Black Arm Band is one of the most important musical ensembles in Australia today, and they have the opportunity and the talent to communicate something powerful and world-changing. Unfortunately, for this reviewer and on this day, this particular show didn’t quite live up to that promise.

Dirtsong was performed by Black Arm Band at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday September 1, 2012

Dance, Events, Music, Performances, Review, Whats On

Review: MICHAEL JACKSON HIStory II

Gone but not forgotten

By Jessica Cornish

Reminiscent of a Star Trek convention, hundreds of people draped in sequenced jackets, silk white gloves and glittered hats meandered into Her Majestys Theatre last night in anticipation of HIStory II.

This tribute to the legendary Michael Jackson starred L.A based impersonator Kenny Wizz and was supported by his eclectic band who had gathered from across the globe to entertain his Melbourne audience for over two hours.

Unsure of the concept of the night, I was relieved to find that the show was in fact a high-quality tribute concert. No poorly-written jukebox musical storyline, or invented characters trying to make the famous songs in to some poorly-formed song cycle. Instead, the night was one hit after the next, paired with some of the best lighting production I have seen in a long time

Visually the show was vibrant, punchy and consistently changing with the dynamic pop songs. Strobe lighting was heavily incorporated in to the lighting design, giving the dancers and Kenny as MJ a dramatic edge to songs such as Thriller and Smooth Criminal. Three hanging LED screens also featured prominently throughout the night, adding another dimension to the visual feast unfolding.

Unfortunately, during the first half of the performance there were some audio technical difficulties with the front-of-house mix, giving the sound a bizarre ‘paned’ effect, resulting in glaring music randomly jutting in and out of the speakers. Luckily this issue was resolved after interval, and the show ran smoothly.

Kenny belted out the demanding falsetto tunes continually with great passion and conviction. After impersonating MJ for over 28 years, he clearly convinces the audience who were besotted by him throughout the entire performance. Streams of young and old fans alike lined the aisles, dancing in delight.

Throughout the night Kenny was backed by a talented troupe of six dancers who added much energy to the performance. Initially the dancers seemed slightly out of sync with each other at times, but as the show progressed these problems quickly disappeared.

Personal performance favourites of mine were Don’t Blame It On The Boogie, with the dance troupe dressed in black and gold sequenced body suits dancing up a storm, followed by Smooth Criminal which of course included the famous ‘lean’ choreography that MJ made so famous.

Overall the night was greatly enjoyed, and Kenny promised to be back for another run next year. Perfect for anyone who wants a fun night out, a homage to MJ, and an opportunity to forget the mundane troubles of everyday life for a couple hours.

TOUR DATES: Sydney 24/8 & 25/8 Brisbane 1/9, Adelaide 8/9 and Perth 15/9

TICKETS: $89 Adult, $79 Conc/Group 10+
BOOKINGS: www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 795 012

Events, Music, Performances, Review, Whats On

REVIEW: Arts House Presents METAPRAXIS

Only for musical initiates

By Myron My

The talent and skill of everyone who performed at Metapraxis was of a high calibre and I do not wish to take anything away from them in that respect, but as a mere music-loving audience member and not an actual musician, I left that evening feeling unfulfilled by the performance.

The opening act by James Rushford and Joe Talia had me very confused as to what they were trying to accomplish. At one point, I thought I was watching an experimental band performing at a late-night underground club, and felt very uninspired by it.

The choreography of Metapraxis was beautiful, and experimentally playing instruments using traditional and non-traditional methods (such as having fingers for the violin instead of a bow) was intriguing to watch.

There were certainly some captivating moments but sadly, these were just a few moments. “The Long And The Short Of It” for example included a cut-up video of a 5400km long ‘Dog Fence’ being bowed – the longest string instrument in the world. It was interesting to then see this combined with conducted improvisation of hand signals and caption cards.

The Australian premiere of Jani Christou’s rarely performed 1966 masterpiece, “Praxis for 12” was the stand-out of the night with a world of what I can only describe as chaotic calmness created successfully.

It is obvious a lot of time and effort has been put into this performance and the precision with which everyone played is phenomenal. Local string quartet Atticus are to be commended on their skill and talent – as are all the performers – but ultimately, I didn’t feel a connection to the pieces and this is the downfall of this work, in failing to connecting the music to the listener and viewer.

Christou described a ‘metapraxis’ as an “action that goes against the implied logic of an art form – a destabilisation, an implosive gesture, a push against the norms. Metapraxis is a bold venture into this experience.” Unfortunately, I simply felt like a surfer who waited for that big wave to come and take me on a ride – but for me, it never came.

Venue: Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall

Season: Until 21 July 2012 | 7:30pm

Tickets: $20 Full | $15 Conc

Bookings: 03 9322 3713 or online

Events, Music, Performances, Review, Whats On

Review: TWO-RING CIRCUS – The Songs of Crowded House

Wonderfully more than a tribute show

By Adam Tonking

The idea of sitting through the greatest hits of Crowded House as not performed by Crowded House may not sound like everyone’s cup of tea – indeed, I’m not sure it sounds like mine.

Thank God then, for Matt Bradshaw and Dominic Italiano of Two-Ring Circus, and for their masterful performance of these oh-so-familiar songs. Bradshaw and Italiano are consummate performers, and they are charming and delightful – plus you can’t deny the appeal of those songs.

Bradshaw and Italiano were inclusive and welcoming from the start – it was like hanging out with your super-awesome friends, who are wickedly talented, while they play their favourite songs with such love and joy. If these aren’t your favourite songs, they may well be by the time Two-Ring Circus are through with you. In between musical numbers they discuss the different aspects of this music that fills them with such passion and admiration, and you can’t help but be swept up by their enthusiasm.

This was clearly a well-honed act that flowed beautifully between heartfelt tribute and just damn entertaining. Bradshaw and Italiano play easily off each other, and off the audience, without any pretension or self-consciousness. Their skills as musicians are impeccable, their voices heart-melting, their guitar-playing breath-taking.

I was particularly impressed by the small details – their use of a loop machine to create a beat was a rather elegant way to get around having no drummer, and their ability to work a microphone (sadly, a rare trait in a lot of performers) left me in no doubt as to the capabilities of these performers.

Bradshaw and Italiano breathe new energy into these oft-played standards, just through their obvious love and respect for the material. Frankly, I can’t imagine enjoying Crowded House more than I did Two-Ring Circus. Run quickly to see tribute done correctly.

Two-Ring Circus – The Songs of Crowded House is on at The Butterfly Club, 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne, from Tuesday 13th March till Sunday 18th March at 8pm Tuesday & Wednesday, 9pm Thursday till Saturday, and 8pm on Sunday.

Book at www.thebutterflyclub.com and do it quick.

Cabaret, Events, Music, Performances, Review

REVIEW: The Song Company Presents LOVE IN VENICE

 Sex, Comedy and… Classical Music?!

By Anastasia Russell-Head

Early Baroque music – madrigals, the sweet harmonies of Monteverdi, purity of sound, tra-la-la-la-la, etc… A bit twee, all sweetness and light, we might think?

…Oh no, it’s all about sex!

With racy lyrics involving “blazing ardour”, “biting teeth”, “thrusting darts” and lots of “death” (think metaphorically), it really helps to have the translation of the original Italian at hand to fully appreciate Monteverdi’s “erotic” madrigals!

Supplied with comprehensive program notes (with full translations) we were treated to an aural feast last night at the Melbourne Recital Centre’s intimate Salon, in The Song Company’s inaugural Melbourne subscription concert: Love in Venice. The first half of the program featured eleven of the aforementioned madrigals, performed with exquisite beauty and precision by the six seasoned singers of the company. Special mention must be made of sopranos Susannah Lawergren and Anna Fraser, whose performance of the duet O come sei gentile was one of the many highlights.

From the sublime to the ridiculous – the focus after interval changed to comedy. Including props, puns, crazy accents and general hilarity, the performance of Adriano Banchieri’s (1567-1643) A Boat from Venice bound for Padua conjured some genuine belly laughs from the audience – not what you generally expect from a classical music concert!

Just as Shakespeare and other literary figures are still relevant in the twenty-first century, so too can be the music from the past. This concert served to illustrate that humour from seventeenth-century Italy can still be funny in Melbourne in 2012, and that human lust and love hasn’t really changed that much in 400 years. The Song Company is to be commended for this accessible, high-quality and extremely enjoyable production. I just wish the audience were encouraged more to clap between songs!

The Song Company’s Love in Venice was performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre on March 12, 2012.

Clive Birch (bass), Richard Black (tenor), Mark Donnelly (baritone), Anna Fraser (soprano), Lanneke Jones (mezzo), Susannah Lawergren (soprano) and Artistic Director Roland Peelman. With Tommie Andersson (lute/theorbo/Spanish guitar) and Laura Vaughan (lirone/gamba).