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West Coast Blues'n'Roots review: a day of beards, sequins, stagediving and song West Coast Blues'n'Roots review: a day of beards, sequins, stagediving and song
(5 months later)
You know you’re at a You know you’re at a music festival when outside the men’s dunny there is a bucketload of sunscreen, deodorant, bug spray and one tub of cheap styling gel. The hair product must have been for the hipsters who turned out at the West Coast Blues n Roots festival in Fremantle on Sunday to see indie darlings Matt Corby and Boy & Bear.
music festival when outside the men’s dunny there is a bucketload of The first thing you notice about Corby is his passion for his craft. During his first song, he throws down his earplugs in disgust as technical glitches muddle what should have been a simmering opening. But by the time Corby hits his groove with the song Brother, he manages a wry smile. There is a lot to like about the New South Welshman. But his reluctance to engage with the audience isn’t one of them.
sunscreen, deodorant, bug spray and one tub of cheap styling gel. The hair product must have A swarm of men with beards stampeding towards the big top marked the arrival of Boy & Bear. The Sydneysiders delighted their hirsute fans with their gorgeous sweet pop, lush harmonies and jangling guitars. The four-piece effortlessly glided their way through tunes from their second outing Harlequin Dream. Ultimately though, while Boy & Bear’s live show is energetic, the saccharine folk tunes can become a little tiresome.
been for the hipsters who turned out at the West Coast Blues n Roots festival in Fremantle on Sunday to see With bands starting at the same time, trying to navigate your way through the blanket dwellers to get from stage to stage is like a game of human Tetris. But seeing Elvis Costello point a megaphone at his guitar during his opening track, Watching the Detectives, made the Burke and Wills-type trek worthwhile. A geek before it was chic, Costello's showmanship and love of performing shines through. Despite his bookish, bespectacled exterior the raw energy of his punk days still lurks just beneath the surface. The ballads Everyday I Write the Book and Alison are still tender and rich. And as Costello joked: "There is nothing like hearing Alison sung in an Australian accent."
indie darlings Matt Corby and Boy & Bear. Erykah Badu waltzed on stage wearing a top hat and sequin jacket. With her jazzy, hip-hop grooves and a voice that scats, raps and croons, she hypnotised the crowd with songs like Amerykahn Overture, Orange Moon and I Want You.
The first thing you At the other extreme, given his self-proclaimed loved for porn it's suprising that John Mayer is not more adored in Australia. And he can play. But despite the savvy licks and clever lead breaks, in the end he comes across as more yacht rock than blues.
notice about Corby is his passion for his craft. During his first song, Edward Sharpe’s rise from drug addict to deity has been well documented. With his 10-men troupe the Magnetic Zeros behind him, Sharpe (real name Alex Ebert) is keen to preach the gospel of love, joy and peace. Sharpe wasted no time getting amongst his flock by diving headfirst into the crowd in the opening track Man on Fire. There are times when Sharpe doesn’t hit the right note, but when he finished on the raucous, rollicking ballad Home, this modern day hippy prophet had converted a few new disciples.
he throws down his earplugs in disgust as technical glitches muddle what Michael Franti has been a regular visit to Fremantle with his band Spearhead since the bluesfest started out as a drop punt away at the Esplanade Park more than 10 years ago. Incorporating a marriage proposal and a fan hoisted about the crowd in his wheelchair to play acoustic guitar, Franti’s set sizzled and can be best summed up by one of his own lines: “All the freaky people make the beauty of the world”.
should have been a simmering opening. But by the time Corby
hits his groove with the song Brother, he manages a wry smile. There is a lot to like
about the New South Welshman. But his reluctance to engage with the audience isn’t one of them.
A swarm of men with beards stampeding towards
the big top marked the arrival of Boy & Bear. The Sydneysiders
delighted their hirsute fans with their gorgeous sweet pop, lush harmonies and jangling
guitars. The four-piece
effortlessly glided their way through tunes from their second outing Harlequin
Dream. Ultimately though, while Boy
& Bear’s live show is energetic, the saccharine folk tunes can become a
little tiresome.
With bands starting at
the same time, trying to navigate your way
through the blanket dwellers to get from stage to stage is like a game of human Tetris. But seeing Elvis
Costello point a megaphone at his guitar during his opening track, Watching the
Detectives, made the Burke and Wills-type trek worthwhile. A geek before it was chic, Costello's showmanship and love of performing shines through. Despite his bookish,
bespectacled exterior the raw energy of his punk days still lurks just
beneath the surface. The ballads Everyday I Write the Book and Alison
are still tender and rich. And as Costello joked: "There is nothing like
hearing Alison sung in an Australian accent."
Erykah Badu
waltzed on stage wearing a top hat and sequin jacket. With her jazzy, hip-hop grooves and a voice that scats, raps and croons, she hypnotised the crowd with songs like Amerykahn Overture, Orange Moon and I Want You.
At the other extreme, given his self-proclaimed loved for porn it's suprising that John Mayer is not more adored in
Australia. And he can play. But despite the savvy licks and clever
lead breaks, in the end he comes across as more yacht rock than blues.
Edward Sharpe’s rise from
drug addict to deity has been well documented. With his 10-men troupe
the Magnetic Zeros behind him, Sharpe (real name Alex Ebert) is keen to preach the gospel of love, joy
and peace. Sharpe wasted no time
getting amongst his flock by diving headfirst into the crowd in the opening
track Man on Fire. There are times when
Sharpe doesn’t hit the right note, but when he finished on the raucous,
rollicking ballad Home, this modern day hippy prophet had converted a few new
disciples.
Michael Franti has been
a regular visit to Fremantle with his band Spearhead since the bluesfest started
out as a drop punt away at the Esplanade Park more than 10 years ago. Incorporating a marriage
proposal and a fan hoisted about the crowd in his wheelchair to play
acoustic guitar, Franti’s set sizzled and can be best summed up
by one of his own lines: “All the freaky people make the beauty of the world”.