Smokestack Orchestra, WhiteMansions, Ben Salter @ TheTroubadour, Brisbane(20/09/2008)

Wed 24th Sep, 2008 in Gig Reviews

The show opened with Ben Salter, one man, one guitar and many ideas. An award winning singer/songwriter, well known for his work with The Gin Club, never shy when it comes to publicity, they made bruschetta on The Rock & Roll Cooking Show and challenged the Doctor from Frenzal Rhomb to a Busk Off on Triple J. Salter also has a successful solo career, playing a unique blend of happy hardcore folk rock on a borrowed guitar or as he calls it “Another miserable song.” This is a unique blend of country music on a Fender Stratocaster, original, unusual and thought provoking, with the highlights being Ten Paces Away, the Beatles cover Oh Darling and the haunting ballad You, Me & the Sea.

The White Mansions are a fun band, listing their influences as beer, cigarettes and Johnny Cash, playing nineties rock and breaking hearts with the classic love song F##k Buddies, dedicated to Paul Simon in his angst years. They sound almost like Spiderbait or Happyland, with a great blend of male and female vocals provided by Dave Ross and Kellie Lloyd. Delivering short, fast paced, pop tracks to keep the audience dancing, with comic relief provided by the energetic Paul Lewis on guitar. The set ended with the Fleetwood Mac classic Go Your Own Way, a tribute to drummer Jeff Hahn, who was playing his final set with the band.

Smokestack Orchestra burn, efficient and clean as they launch their debut album Salute Heavy Industry. They are dynamic performers, with heavy thundering drum rhythms driving their bluesy rock sound, not surprisingly as Skritch (Mary Trembles) is playing percussion. Scarecrow Wallace and Dean Hunt were impressive with their matching gold guitars, as were guest performers Stacy on vocals and Steve (New Jack Rubys) on the theremin, (an electronic instrument played without touching it) producing an eerie sound reminiscent of B Grade Science Fiction films like The Day the Earth Stood Still, giving a surreal ambiance to the whole performance.