The first time I heard about Solid Gold I thought it sounded dodgy. The more people told me it was really fun, the more I thought, yeah.. you were probably off ya chops. It wasn't until I experienced Solid Gold that I understood the many joys it brings. Reliving your childhood through the music your parents listened to. Dressing up in disco clothing. The comforting familiarity of knowing all the words to crappy (and not so crappy) songs. Watching the Solid Gold dancers and old music videos. Maybe winning a best dressed prize. This party has a cult local following. You can check the photos on the photo page.
The Space Cowboy wears a black tutu and has fishooks in his eye sockets. They are attached to a cord which is attached to a trolley. Sitting on the trolley is TigerLil, a petite Burlesque dancer. When the Space Cowboy pulls TigerLil across the stage, to loud cheers from the audience, I understand what the attraction is to sideshows: If they mess things up, we'll all have one bloody good story to tell.
It would seem hurting yourself is not only entertaining for others, but you can make a living from it. Sword swallowing, as ringleader Shep quips, "is a dying art". The Space Cowboy performs several sword swallows during the one hour show, and each time I feel myself fighting the urge to gag. He swallows a sword with a bar welded to it, with gas bottles suspended from the bar. He recently broke the world record for weight lifting while sword swallowing (seriously, who thinks this shit up??) by lifting a total weight of 22.4 kg, about the same as a large border collie.
Accompanying the Space Cowboy with their own death defying stunts are Ringleader Shep, who puts his arm in a dingo trap, and suspends a live car battery from his nipple piercings (no, not simultaneously). Zoë Ellis becomes a watermelon chopping block, and climbs a sword stepladder - barefoot. Beautiful, graceful Tiger Lil mesmerises all with her hula hoop dancing. I won't give away the finale, but there are a lot of sparks!
Tonight is the last time you will see The Monster Sideshow in Byron this year, so check it out. It may be your last chance to see it, ever!
If you prefer your music to be a soundtrack to getting shitfaced and ogling drunk backpackers, Blue Birdy nights are not for you. The regular Wednesday jazz club at the Buddha Bar provides a welcome alternative to the clubs and pubs along the main strip of Byron. It's an intimate venue where the focus is on the music - think Sydney's "The Basement" but more low key.
It's not unusual for some of the musicians to play a teaser in the courtyard of the backpacker bar outside. When I travelled Europe I was followed everywhere by Mambo No. 5. Then in South America / Asia I was hounded by The Gasolina. Any opportunity to get away from the backpacker party scene and hear something real was welcome. I noticed a lot of appreciative nodding going on in the audience as the five piece flowed through Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, and Charles Mingus. The drum solo in the finale, a rendition of a Joe Zawinaul piece, deserves special mention... as it was very long and very good. This week, The East Coast Jazz Collective featured Al Hicks (The Strides) on drums, Nick Garbett (The Strides, Watussi) on trumpet, Thierry Fossemalle on double bass, Matt Smith on guitar and Mitch Carey (Lisa Hunt) on tenor sax.
"Why didn't you tell me they're all cute and speaking Spanish?!" my friend says as she arrives halfway through the second set. "I'd have come much sooner!"
As most of the women dancing in the front row would agree, good looks help any performer. Luckily for Watussi, they are also shit-hot musicians. Admittedly, I'm a sucker for any band with a brass section. The eight-piece band from Sydney add a distinct Afro-Cuban flavour to rock and roots. Fronted by Oscar, a charismatic Columbian, they present a high energy performance with an enthusiasm that turns the audience into wannabe salsa all-stars.
I first saw Watussi play the Surry Hills festival about four years ago. They were crowd pleasers then, and have only improved since. If you missed them, check their website and have a listen to the audio player. If you get the chance to see them live, make sure you do.
Did you see this gig? What did you think of it? You can comment here.
RSS Feed