On perhaps the busiest, hottest, and most frenetic long weekend in the Adelaide calendar, the Rocket Bar brought the funk with the coolest sound around in The TransAtlantics. This seven piece band and sometime singer braved 30 degree plus temperatures to dress regally, play royally and show who has mastered the showmanship title completely.
It has been a long time since I saw a band which seemed to enjoy themselves as much as these guys and gals did. With a four piece horn section, funky drummer, superb guitar and bass, The TransAtlantics showed they could hold their own with several instrumentals before bringing on Tara Lynch to funk it up all the more. They hold it all together with minimal effort and the show is a must see for anyone who appreciates music with soul.
Of course nothing happens at Rocket early and in between bands one cannot help but be overwhelmed by the illustrious DJs Japeye & Brother Irwin. They were billed as bringing the sound that is better than the records you play at home, and God Damn, they live up to this in spades. With a little clique of break dancing boys and girl to add to the entertainment between the ridiculously long gaps between the bands, Rocket Bar works it hard to bring a night of fabulous entertainment if you have an ounce of appreciation for the sound that is down in you.
And of course we then come to the headline act, Melbourne band The Bamboos. No strangers to being hailed as the Australian answer to a funk staple, the band made a late, make that very late, appearance at the Rocket Bar after a performance for the Adelaide Festival in the Persian Gardens earlier in the night. From the sublime to the sweaty home of funky live sounds in the west end. The sharply dressed men of deep funk brought it home and finished off a night of quality entertainment with excellent DJ, crowd and a top line up which was highlighted by the homegrown TransAtlantics, who certainly show they hold their own and should be picked up by a label if the labels have any idea of what quality is. Do not miss their solo shows at Rocket Bar and the Crown and Sceptre in the coming weeks.
