The Cat Empire @ FremantleArts Centre (6/03/09)

Mon 9th Mar, 2009 in Gig Reviews

shanebutler’s gallery

In the shade of a colonial asylum turned arts centre a group of assorted patrons assembled anticipating an evening of carefree indulgence with friends. Laying out rugs and cracking open bottles of wine there was a relaxed feel to the last hours of the working week.

Free flowing floral dresses, sandals, thongs and the odd band shirt covered the crowd while food stalls selling kebabs, curry and stuffed baked potatoes produced a pungent concoction of aromas.

Support act Paprika Balkanicus arrived onstage and declared in broken English, “we can’t really play so we just do full monty for you tonight”. Yielding a cheer from some persons up front they thankfully picked up their instruments with a musicians touch, confirming that clothes were to stay on. A combination of nationalities from eastern Europe, Paprika Balkanicus blended together gypsy, folk and classical string arrangements all into songs meant for dancing. Since they are an instrumental group, all of the songs were supported by explanations of music, meaning and its origins. Two accordions, a violin, guitar and double bass provided the music for the joyful jokers whose humour transcended language. The mention of Borat and a call to dance faster and faster whilst clasping stranger’s hands had some wild circles churning up the grass dance floor.

Accumulated over their years of extensive touring, The Cat Empire has a vast following. Like a party or a friendship contained in a recording they stimulate and encompass festivity and reflection. With so many cities appearing in the most recent recording, Live On Earth is an expression of the sum of input from places they have found along the way. Set constructions of buildings contrasted the port side surroundings they found themselves in.

Quickly scooting onto stage So Many Nights led the set and triggered the party fever. With Harry Angus on a grand trumpet solo leading into How To Explain his amazing embosure and lung capacity is striking even after viewing many a performance. Dipping into their self-titled LP there was additional room for DJ Jumps’ scratching and Will Hull-Brown’s drums to improvise and take the attention.

Days Like These harnessed the enthusiasm of the crowd while the yellow of the setting sun cast a cheery backdrop. Some pretty wacky audience dance moves appeared, from the bouncing child to the tipsy middle aged and showed the breadth of people in high spirits due to the band before them. Two Shoes elicited more solos and drove the song on longer and so too, the cheers that followed.

Reibl shared his reflections on the past year and his appreciation and awe at his fellow band members. No Longer There gave Reibl, a chance to encourage people to get involved and make their voices heard against the Federal Government policy that has decreased greenhouse gas targets.

Inviting their supports, Paprika Balkanicus, back on stage to play one of each band’s songs. Buoyed by the crowd, Reibl hoped to perform Miserere however with the keyboard a tone up he was unable to.
By the time they said Hello it was nearly time to say good night, but the audience had clearly not unleashed their vocal renditions enough for one night, and an encore had them diving in with gusto.

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