The opportunity to experience Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson in the hallowed Basement in Sydney was something I could not pass up on. After sampling their new release, Rattlin’ Bones, and finding it to be the rootsiest album she has recorded in years, I was curious to see how it came across live. In short, it was simply dazzling.
The show, part of Bigpond’s Monday Night Live series and broadcast live online and on your mobile phone, was filled with the humour and stunning vocals of Ms. Chambers. Even though she complained that her voice was a bit rough and she was tossing back spoonfuls of Manuka Honey (as prescribed by her Dad, Dr. Bill Chambers) to ease any discomfort, she sounded as heavenly country as ever. Performing the entire CD from beginning to end, we were given a fantastic preview of her upcoming tour with the newly christened band, The Prairie Dogs.
The 14 tracks played on the evening did not stray far from the recorded versions but the typically verbose Kasey added her stories and whimsical humour as an added bonus. She told us the producers of the show said to not be afraid to talk and that this idea brought groans from her fellow Prairie Dogs when they heard this. But her lack of brevity between songs, took nothing away from the playing of Bill Chambers on slide and guitars, James Gillard on the manly bass and the other lonesome picking and tapping Prairie Dogs.
The two voices of Shane Nicholson and Kasey Chambers made for some beautiful harmonies and the ensemble playing behind them was fairly error free and full of life. The evening proved that they have come together to create a sound that is truly their own with a nod of the hat to performers like Emmylou Harris with Gram Parsons or that fabulous couple Buddy and Julie Miller. Comparisons aside, their tone and understanding of the strengths of each others singing was spectacular.
Shane played some fantastic guitar and got behind the banjo as Kasey talked and said she was trying to turn him into a hillbilly. He is now officially a hillbilly after hearing them cover these 14 songs during this hour plus show. It was hard to pick one or two highlights, but the ones that really grabbed me as perfect songwriting were Wildflower, The House That Never Was, Your Day Will Come, and the soulful Once In Awhile. But all in all, it was a frighteningly excellent display of roots music for an audience that was made up of many of her true fans.
As a matter of fact, the couple at the table next to mine had just arrived at 9am that morning for the gig. They had made the trip just for the show, travelling by train from Wangaratta. Kasey has an amazing fan base and this certainly shows the length that some people will go to experience her with her exceptional band. Hopefully they were out on the street before the gig where I saw Kasey and Shane stroll by and then Bill Chambers gathering up some pre-gig grub.
Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson’s new album, Rattlin’ Bones, is out now and should be in the collection of any country/roots fan. I am putting my hand up to say that this is the best roots album out so far this year. Kasey, Shane and the Prairie Dogs have been on a major regional tour of Australia which continues through July. They hit the major capital cities of Australia in August.
