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 Photo: Kylie Keene
What better way to examine the breadth and depth of Brisbane’s booming music scene than the annual Valley Fiesta? Friday night’s schedule is disrupted by a sudden storm, which pushes Liam Griffin from the line-up and delays The John Steel Singers’ commencement by a half-hour. Spirits remain high among the crowd of hundreds as the lauded six-piece entertain with an impressive array of new songs, and established favourites Strawberry Wine and Evolution.
Songstress Abbe May and her Rockin’ Pneumonia trio are comparably lifeless, opting to fill their set with sparse blues-rock instrumentations led by the powerful pipes of Miss May herself. Technically sound, but ill-suited to the restless crowd of youngsters hanging out for the more upbeat sounds ahead.
It seems more natural to see teen sensations Operator Please at an open air, alcohol-free venue, if only because they’re not getting into any bars tonight. They manage to rock out this noticeably young crowd fairly hard, particularly with the dual vocals of Amandah Wilkinson and violin prodigy Taylor Henderson.
The Fiesta’s first night ends in a sigh rather than a scream, but that’s characteristic of any Brisbane weekend. Friday is for forgetting work, Saturday is the party.
 Photo: Kylie Keene
After the wind and rain last night, Saturday’s clear skies are a welcome relief. Brisbane is brilliant in Spring – there’s sun, a few festivals, and you can still wear proper clothes. That doesn’t stop people from trying to wear as little as possible today, but relaxing in the shade with a beer in one hand and sushi in the other, it becomes increasingly difficult to care.
Little Vegas & The Fuzz Parade play to a supportive Chinatown Mall crowd. The five-piece definitely look the part – with cool guitars and an energetic frontwoman in a cheap red dress. The band bash away with a certain competence, which is heartening I guess, but their alternative-mainstream songwriting leaves a lot to be desired – namely originality and (subsequently) excitement.
Helping to celebrate their drummer Tony Garret’s birthday on the Street Stage with a thousand or so Spring-time fiesta revellers are local indie-rock favourites The Boat People, who use the opportunity to showcase a number of tracks from their recent release Chandeliers – the ingenious pop melodies in Awkward Orchid Orchard make for an obvious highlight.
The Sampology & Tom Thumb Beatbox Show could do with more beatboxing, though it’s a good showcase for Sampology’s DJ skills and their gleefully adolescent humour – Tom Thumb says balls, Sampology records it and scratches it, he’s scratching his balls, LOL. Thumb’s got the ooweeoo of the Doctor Who theme down pat, too.
Before gaining greater success as Big Heavy Stuff, Brisbane’s Ups And Downs played the glorious kind of subtle, jangly guitar pop that rarely exists in today’s venues. Reforming for the fiesta, the aging quartet (particularly their laddish banter) create a feel-good vibe that travels through the head-bopping crowd.
A reduced version of The Gin Club appear on the Chinatown stage, but they’re still masters of the shambolic and alcoholic, enrapturing the audience until a singalong finish with the Willie-Nelson-owing Wylde Bitch.
People are still singing The Gambler all the way to the Street Stage where Urthboy is playing, joined by DJ Elgusto from Hermitude rocking a bear suit and Jane Tyrrell. Urthy and Tyrrell have great chemistry that’s evident as they stalk each other back and forth across the stage during the highlight, We Get Around.
Meanwhile, back at the Street Stage, Sydney’s hi-energy, funky rockers Bluejuice are giving focus to the evening’s festivities. From the fuzzy rock of Phantom Boogie and into the punkier sounding Motorcycle Accident, Bluejuice’s shirtless stage antics encourage reckless abandon on the street, before finishing on a distinctive high with their 2007 radio hit Vitriol.
A late addition to the weekend after Sparkadia pulled out, End Of Fashion have a new album to hock, so it’s surprising to hear a set that’s heavily weighted towards their last release. The poppy kids in the crowd love dancing to guitars, while the alternadorks revel in the guilty pleasures of their cheesy rock.
Things are still heating up as the final bands play tonight, but with venues all around Fortitude Valley holding great gigs, it’s safe to assume that the night is not over for most.
 Photo: Kylie Keene
Judging by the sights, sounds and smells of the Brunswick Street markets this morning, it would also be safe to assume that some punters didn’t waste time going home last night. Certainly not showering.
Whether it’s due to less people in the audience, the piercing sunlight or the severe hangover bouncing around the brain, young locals The Cairos seem painfully loud compared to last night. While the performance is vibrant, it feels like they’ve recently purchased a bunch of Joy Division and Stooges albums and tried to fill in the blanks.
Le Friken Hecks are an unassuming band. Their psychedelic meanderings have a way of insinuating themselves amongst an unsuspecting crowd, and curious passers-by are drawn to the Street Stage. Brisk winds add a certain spectacle to the longhaired band’s set, though their music lacks the breeze’s sense of dynamics. A climax every now and then wouldn’t hurt, nor would down-playing the guitar occasionally.
Following on from Le Hecks – and warming up for a their annual Powerhouse gypsy jazz extravaganza – are Brisbane’s premier world music outfit, Doch, who have returned from Serbia armed with tunes drenched in the Romany sound and spirit. The warmth of the trumpet-led Foxtrot has people dancing in the spring sunshine before The Man Who Drinks drenches the audience with cheerful accordion.
The atmosphere during At Sea’s set becomes a little surreal once dual bubble-distributing stiltwalkers crash the otherwise picturesque scene at the Chinatown Stage. Mid-afternoon seems the perfect time for the emerging quintet’s blues-rock excursions. Several tracks from their forthcoming EP are debuted, each highlighting their catchy songwriting and Lauren Walker’s powerful voice.
Del Toro kick arse. That seems to be the consensus as the post/math-rock instrumental three-piece play the Street Stage. There are some technical issues with the guitarist’s pedals, but that’s what you get for using cheap patch cables. Once he gets going though it’s a swirling, delayed wall of wah goodness – a heady rush of freedom, like a smiling truant, as his notes cascade through the rhythm section’s strict schedule of time signatures.
Although the light is beginning to fade in the Chinatown Mall, could the afternoon be ready for Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side’s dynamically charged and emotionally tortured crooning? The growing audience sure thinks so and as they revel through the local all-star act’s swampy set of rock & roll, particularly enjoying older gem The Beginning Of The End.
Like chewing gum, New South Wales lads The Re-Mains are plenty palatable for a while – within the confines of a festival set – but the thought of their rapidly dwindling country rock & roll flavour remains in my mind. Infants happily roam the space between stage and audience as Mick Daley sings of good-looking Kings Cross hookers, tequila and methadone, before storm clouds gather overhead and threaten to derail the evening’s proceedings.
Americana country duo Texas Tea play a set that’s disrupted by rain. It breaks our hearts almost as much as they do with their doomed duet, The Daredevil’s Lament. The rain continues and Valley delicacies like greasy pizza can only give us so much stamina. Audiences are flagging and shivering, but the Valley’s most important delicacy, good music, makes it all worthwhile.
JODY MACGREGOR, MITCH ALEXANDER, ANDREW MCMILLEN, JAKEB SMITH & JAMES STAFFORD
1. Written by taz, on 17-09-2008 15:56
Critics are like eunuchs in a harem. They know how its done, they've seen how its done, but they are unable to do it themselves |
2. Written by Mr Behan, on 17-09-2008 19:53
Yeah... Taz this would have been a really bold statement, if you hadn't just copied the quote straight from Brendan Francis Behan.  It seems that you are also unable to do it yourself. |
3. Written by Piglet, on 24-09-2008 12:59
Yes Mr behan, but it's still true nonetheless |
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