Kate Miller-Heidke with Cuthbert and the Night Walkers (30/06/07, The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley)

Cuthbert and the Night Walkers

I wasn’t sitting in the best spot for Cuthbert and the Night Walkers. I was in the third row, to the right of the stage (it was a reserved seating event). Cuthbert and the Night Walkers provided the crowd with a fun and thoroughly entertaining set. Cuthbert and the Night Walkers music is lyrically driven with immense harmonies. The 4 singers (Night Walker Choir) became the “big band” during one of the songs, comprising of all the usual “big” brass instruments but only in kazoo form. The 2 guys dressed like clowns provided the percussion and other sound needs of the band, as well as some on stage shenanigans. Front man Richie provides the lead acoustic guitar and vocals dressed all up with a top hat and tails. This complemented their sound well, which I want to say had a 1930’s – 40’s feel, but a whole lot better. Highlight was Red Frogs. Technical was of the usual high Tivoli standard.

Performance 7.5
Technical 9


Kate Miller-Heidke

I am going to do this review in set list form with comments about some of the songs because you all already know what I think about Kate Miller-Heidke. Technical was great throughout, expect one song needed a tad more vocal.

Little Adam
Apartment
Make It Last - (Kate made a comment about a fan talking to her after the show about how nice it was to have a song understanding the nature of the problem the said fan and her partner were having (in the bedroom), however in this song Kate is actually reflecting on the disposable nature of our society.)

Mama
Ducks Don’t Need Satellites
Toxic – (HIGHLIGHT, Britney Spears cover)
Bored With Me
Dreams

Intermission (costume change): Speed of Red (Sallie & Kier)

Space They Cannot Touch – (HIGLIGHT, This song make me tingle all over, in the very good way)

Shoebox – (Kate commented about the fact that Shoebox carries a very similar theme to Apartment.)

I Got the Way
Don’t Let Go
Australian Idol – (HIGHLIGHT, As always)
Words – (HIGHLIGHT, Naturally as it is the current single.)

Encore: Monster - (Another song that I really like.)

Kate thanked Cuthbert and the Night Walkers for their support, and commented “… and you thought I was weird”.

Kate was excited that Words getting air play on ABC 612, in particular during a segment called “polarisation”, which they ask people to ring with opinions (like/hate). Most people liked it. However one guy who hated it said on live national radio “I would rather scratch my bowels out with a stick than hear that song again”.

I personally believe that Kate’s first single Words was a gutsy move, but it does personify Kate well. The new album sees Kate taking her music to a different level.

Performance 10
Technical 9

Mt Augustus with Joel Saunders, and Rialto Decibel Choir (20/06/07, The Troubadour, Fortitude Valley)

My first night at The Troubadour in ages, oh how I have missed The Troubadour. Disclaimer: I know members of Rialto Decibel Choir and Mt Augustus.

Rialto Decibel Choir
Rialto Decibel Choir seemed a little nervous which is expected when this is their first gig in the well respected Troubadour. Rialto Decibel Choir’s songs mainly comprise of catchy guitar riffs mixed with their soft and unique vocals. Rialto Decibel Choir is unlike anything that I have ever really heard before, as such I am undecided as to whether I personally really like their music. However I do appreciate what they are doing. Definitely worth a look if you are looking for something a bit different.

Performance 6.5
Technical 7


Joel Saunders

I don’t really know what to say about Joel Saunders, I think a friend of mine summed it up quite well, “I think we aren’t cool enough anymore”. Joel Saunders has a very unique sound. Joel mainly did covers of some pop hits, with his very own twist (e.g. “Say It Right” by Nelly Furtado). The sound tech looked very stressed, as he didn’t know what to do with Joel’s music, and I don’t blame him. I can’t really explain it any better, so if you are still interested go and have a look at his videos on his (evil) myspace (evil). Joel had two guys dressed as robots to provide us with some other enthusiastic dancing and shenanigans.

Performance 5
Technical 6


Mt Augustus

I may just be getting into Mt Augustus a little too much. I think it’s the best music project that the Cameron Smith and Patrick Elliott duo have been a part of thus far. These guys throw a bit of everything into their various songs (e.g. Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Musical Saw, Keys, Accordion, just to list a few). Their sound is best described as Indie Folk Rock with a hint of Pop. The biggest change that I noticed compared to pervious Cam and Pat projects is the quality of Cam’s vocals. The Warmest Winter is one of my favourites and verges more on the pop end of the Mt Augustus scale.

Performance 7
Technical 7.5

Kate Miller-Heidke with The Hampdens, and Speed of Purple (12/05/07, The Zoo, Fortitude Valley)

Speed of Purple

I think I saw Speed of Purple not at their best, especially since there were only two of the three members on stage. The music lacked depth, and they seemed to struggle with their nerves. The set up was a bit strange and crowd was fairly sparse for The Zoo, but it was early. The setup on stage was strange especially with the percussionist straddling her drum. I suspect that Speed of Purple are fairly reliant on each other to create a good sound, which just doesn’t quite work when you take someone out of the picture. Mixing was surprising of a high standard for an early act at The Zoo, however it was only a keyboard, drum and vocals.

Performance 6
Technical 7


The Hampdens

The crowd started to build during The Hampdens set. The crowd became noisier as it grew, with very few people taking the time to shut-the-hell-up to take in the pleasant relaxed ambient rock set. Susannah Legge’s vocals are something really special. It would have been a far more enjoyable set without the noisy crowd and feedback issues.

Performance 7
Technical 6


Kate Miller-Heidke

Kate Miller-Heidke opens her set with a lovely solo version of Out and In before the rest of her band joins her on stage. This gig was about a month before the release of her debut album “Little Eve”. Consequently her set drew heavily from it. Little Adam sounded better then it had ever before. Kate’s cover of Britney Spear’s Toxic really got the crowd going. Other highlights included, The Space They Cannot Touch, Mama and of course the then very new quirky single Words to finish the set. The crowd were left wanting more and Kate didn’t disappoint with an encore including the cult hit Australian Idol. The only thing holding this back from another perfect 10 performance was that it lacked the now expected costume change.

Performance 9
Technical 7