The Tivoli - Sun Nov 4

With DJ Katch spinning early tonight, the Tivoli is buzzing, although I’m slightly un-nerved by a disturbing video looped on the many screens around the theatre; I get it already, humans ARE a destructive plague. A local legend and proud Resin Dog, Katch cuts through an interesting mix of new hip hop, rock and break beats, craftily using the floor to promote the new Resin Dogs album More. He even beat juggles through a new album track featuring Yungun, announcing that it’s his preferred version. I can feel DJs throughout the audience cringe at the ease with which this man juggles beats.

More than filling the support slot tonight is the UK turntable-soul group Belleruche, who shine despite using a stand in DJ, DJ Thief, for the unavailable DJ Modest. Beginning in a calculatedly quiet way, they explode with the sultry rocking jazz of Bird Mess before progressing through some fresh sounding lounge jazz with serious helpings of funk, hip hop and blues. Kiwi vocalist Kathrin deBoer dazzles all in her gaze and her attempts to promote their new album Turntable Soul Music are charming, given the album’s low-key local release.

After a suitably hyped-up intro the Fat Freddy’s Drop brass and backing vocals sections slink onto stage before the vocalist Dallas Tamaira emerges to riotous applause. The band is in scintillating form as Tamaira’s heavenly voice descends from its lofty heights to comment on Brisbane’s “mad heat” before launching into an interestingly off-time version of Wandering Eye.

Just as each track grows from layers of tone, rhythm and melody, their hook-laden set grows into a pastiche of familiar vocal lines, soulful harmonies and uncharted jams, based predominately from tunes off their awesome album Based on a True Story. Already overwhelming, Tamaira’s stage presence is bolstered with the appearance of Belleruche’s Kathrin deBoer to duet during the extended jam of Roady at sets end.

Even with my fill of solos, scatting and skanking, it’s the promise of a new album from the Wellington crew that tops off the stellar night; too soon despite the set’s two-hour duration.

JAMES STAFFORD

Comments (1)

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*