Fat Freddy's Drop @ ThePalace, Melbourne (19/03/09)

Tue 24th Mar, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Australian and New Zealand music scenes exist in different universes. Except when New Zealand produces a band Australia wants to claim. Crowded House: Australian. Evermore: Kiwi. While Australian airwaves have been pulsating to the sounds of umpteen electro acts, New Zealand seems lost in a green haze of dub and reggae.

It’s always amusing to discuss The Presets with someone who has just arrived from across the ditch. The who? No, no they are here for the Grand Prix. Fat Freddy’s Drop are the kiwi equivalent. The seven piece have an enormous following in the shaky isles, none more so than in their hometown Wellington. But for some reason they have not quite cracked it here. Not that you would have known based on the turn out last Thursday’s at The Palace – it was a sell-out despite charging the un-recessionary $60 (yes, that’s right, Australian dollars).

Despite being around for the better part of 10 years FFD have a rather limited repertoire to choose from: the forthcoming album Big BW is only the band’s second album. This Room opened proceedings and was a portent for the rest of the night which was performed with a laid back, and some may say even sleepy vibe. The track didn’t really excite the crowd as much as allow it to step into a hot spring: relaxing, soothing, and gently warming. While the crowd was luxuriating, trombonist, Ho Pepa gave an introductory glimpse of his outrageous dance-moves. Wandering Eye, their most well known track in Australia, was next up. Unlike on Based on a True Story, the track was played straight and without the benefit of multiple backing vocals. This reinvention really altered its feel but got the crowd moving slightly more freely.

New track Pull the Catch followed and would have reassured the crowd that Big BW will not depart from what has made them what they are with catchy horn hooks seasoning Joe Dukie’s buttery vocals on a bed of Mu’s Polynesian-time beats. Ernie was soon after and featured a cracking solo by Tony Chang on trumpet. Looking like he was on a break from serving drinks at Madame Brussels over the road, he showed-off his jazz training with aplomb.

While on the topic of attire, by this stage Ho Pepa had undergone a wardrobe transformation, and with the greatest respect HP, he looked like Daffyd’s cousin, the only trombonist in the band. But if that’s what it takes for him to smoke the dance floor the way he did, all power to him. With a series of pirouettes, moon walks and glides, he confirmed that while white men can’t jump, they certainly can dance.

It was at this stage, enraptured by the smoke coming from Ho Pepa’s heels, I looked at my watch and realised what felt like a dip was actually an hour-and-a-half-long immersion. Fat Freddy’s rounded off their set-proper with Midnight Marauders which was accompanied a hearty singalong from the crowd. Curiously, Camel which is receiving some airplay from Triple J at the moment, did not feature in the setlist. I also thought that Roady was not going to feature; however, such is the norm nowadays, FFD came out for an encore and played it, sating the crowd’s appetite for more.

It was a delight to listen to genuinely gifted and talented musicians. Who knows why Fat Freddy’s have not made the big time in Australia. Perhaps island-time dub is too far removed from the jaw grinding electro that is de rigueur in Oz. Another factor could be the distinctly New Zealand image the Wellington lads have created, with their Te Reo laced stage banter only further reinforcing that. Whatever the case I hope that more Aussies choose to bathe with Fat Freddy.

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