Timothy Nelson & The Infidels@ Mojo's (25/04/09)

Tue 28th Apr, 2009 in Gig Reviews

April 25 is marked in our nation’s calendar as the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

That piece of history could have been lost at the night’s occasion if it wasn’t for a statue directly across the road from Mojo’s commemorating soldiers involved in the Great War with an Australian flag at flying at half mast as reminder of the freedom our forefathers fought for.

With the free and idealised expression of young musicians drawn up on the chalk board outside the venue, the audience did their duty turning up early enough to hear all bands. For one reviewer at least, tonight was a refreshing reminder of how first impressions can be pleasingly overturned.

Opening the five band line up The Upton Pilots presented a tasterplate of 60s psychedelic rock transitioning between warped imagery and three part harmonies.

Suited up were Jamie Turner on vocals and bass and Wesley Fuller on vocals, keys and guitar, their thin black ties a real throw back to the mod scene where their new drummer Drage Lyon took the tack of no jacket, no tie, no shoes.

Their track Sunshine demonstrated the even and equal involvement of all players while Peter Gower impressed with not only his skill but an expression that has to lead the way in the local scene for most animated guitar face.

A quick look around the audience took in how varied the ages and activity levels were, clearly some supportive families were in attendance to wish the musos well. With a Sweet Home Alabama like start, one of the lads dads must have thought it an in joke and broke into vocal guitar riff. This received a chuckle out of the crowd and the shaking of the heads from the stage before The Upton Pilots played their final song Forget Tomorrow.

Next up The Floors broke up the 60s vibe with some rock ‘n’ brawl. Hedged in with equipment piled up side stage they growled and hollered with a raspy quality that would get any girl’s motor running.

As the incense billowed the blues rock sound got dirtier especially when it came to Shake Your Money Maker.

However the band probably should have kept their enthusiastic tamborining mate side stage whose experience was entertaining more for himself than the rest of the audience. With only 4 shows under his belt as a member of The Floors, Ash Doodkorte, is a cut snake on the drums and remains the best choice of timekeeper.

Will Stoker & The Embers quickly took to the stage brandishing a clarinet and dragging up as part of their ensemble the guitarists Dux and drummer Doodkorte of The Floors.

And so the protagonist of this set antagonised members of the audience and showed a flagrant disregard to the microphone with his lean body lunging and balancing on speakers and moving about the stage with a crazed shimmy shuffle throughout Five Beds For Bitsy.

With blistering guitar licks and the noise created by five musicians Belly Of The Beast had action and chaos aplenty. So much so that Stoker’s agility could not be matched in the flexibility of his garments as his stove pipe denims tore he decided to rip off his shirt too.

The Novocaines were the last of the supports who had a thrashy bit of rock to deliver.

Starting with some grunty Elvis uh huhs they threw themselves into songs from repartee on a girlfriend who did too many drugs to a more pleasurable ode Like A Sunday Morning.

Squeezing into their set list a cover of Velvet Underground’s I’m Waiting For The Man the ear drums took time to recover after being pelted from a barrage of short, fast, gritty tracks.

The first single launch for Timothy Nelson & The Infidels was supported by a printing of 100 copies distributed and readily snapped up at the door. With a self-tiled EP out on the shelves of CD stores a single release suggests an imminent album release, although no timeframe was expressed. It’s an encouraging move for a band who more than once have been described as promising.

Opening with Where Do You Sleep their arrival onstage signaled a different audience response. With a raw unaffected and vulnerable writing style the lyrics of Nelson seem to jump off the page of an old fashioned paper journal and receive a considered reaction from his audience who swing to the strumming of an acoustic guitar in his hands.

Witnessing the man of the hour in a jovial mood he introduced the band thus: “Hello we’re Boys Boys Boys! And here’s a message for the ladies, if your love life is going through recession allow me to offer my stimulus package”!

As a five piece drummer Peter Forgus and bass player Brad Forrest had to play side on so as all could be fit onto Mojo’s stage. Run For Cover began with a three part harmony and Nelson flipping the bird at a squealing mic.

Going solo for two tracks including Speak The Truth In Love showed the vocal range and strength of delivery that Nelson dispenses confidently.

Annie Say Goodbye had the band back accompanying until the presentation of Sleeping Alone to top off an enjoyable night of young, local and talented musicians.