Fast Freddys Drop @ ThePalace, Melbourne (16/10/09)

Tue 20th Oct, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Cookin on Three Burners opened with jazzy, funky sounding tunes featuring some nice organ wailing from the keys. They were slightly rough in the mix and had an overall average jammin band sound with Guitarist Lance Ferguson, Drummer Ivan Khatchoyan and Jake Mason on Keys with guest vocalist Kylie Auldist. They seemed relaxed to the point of not having much stage presence. Though Auldist lent a bluesy kind of sound to the bands repertoire as she sang with them, this group could use a good burst of chutzpah! Which did somewhat eventuate in their last song as they dropped into a groove and came more to life.

DJ Sean Deans played with two turntables, a drum machine/sampler and a laptop – hmmm a DJ playing actual records, a bit of a treat in these digital times, one could say. Deans had a nice big liquid bass sound that brought me out of the dunny thinking the headliner had started. He began with some subtle scratching run through expansive effects, which led into a track that displayed even more scratching skills. If you like ethereal scratching and funky hip hop/ragamuffin beats, then this is your guy.

He continued to display his diversity throughout the set by bringing on guest vocalist Eliza to sing. He even pulled out some metallic, industrial beats. This guy was not afraid to push into new and diverse sounds and had the skills of an octopus, jumping around between all those knobs, buttons and turntables. After a toe tapping last track, which brought more cross-fader burning scratch action, then went into a heavy Gabber sounding mix down to quickly exit the stage like a pro.

Nicely dubbing up introduction, Fat Freddy’s Drop started with an electronic groove by Fitchie aka DJ Mu, MPC extraordinaire, then keys and synth courtesy of Dobie Blaze joined by guitarist Jetlag Johnson, followed by the horns. Which is Chopper Reedz on Alto and Tenor Sax, Tony Chang on trumpet and the amazing Hopepa on trombone. Fitchies electronic console went into a nasty feedback, but the band quickly saved this by dropping into the first song Ernie. Lead singer, Joe Dukie, gave a heartfelt gesture of acknowledgement to the crowd. This was a nice seamless, cruising song, which led straight into the second song Ray Ray.

Dukie did dubbing/effects of his own vocals during the smooth, flowing and beautiful sounding superstar dub Ray Ray. Hopepa was immensely amusing, with his dancing antics, which were executed in tight black clothes, pointy black boots and dark sunnies. The guy had a whole stack of towels to keep up with his energy and sweat. This song was pure.

Wild Wind, the third track, saw Joe Dukie picking up a guitar to play rhythm licks over a big booming electronic beat. Hopepa grooves on like a disco star on crack! The horn section left the stage to leave space for Dobie’s synth solo, which sounded galactic and spacey. The band re-combined for a huge jam out.

The fourth song, BoonDigga, had quite a long surreal build up by Fitchie, Blaze and Johnson. Johnson has some wonderful effect pedals that resulted in him not really sounding like he was playing a guitar. This led into a lilting yet steady beat, which somehow brought to mind Darth Vader cruising through space with its dark sounds and hypnotizing lyrics. The tenor sax was brought out by Chopper to add to this mysterious song. All of this hatched into a rock-steady, house sounding beat, which was followed by a trumpet solo as Hopepa lost his sunnies and jacket in a flurry of egoless dance moves! It’s refreshing to see a man loose all inhibitions and dance like a maniac on stage. All this ended in a long horn section solo, where Hopepa takes off his shirt cause he’s so damn hot! (Luckily he had an undershirt)

After a brief breather the band rolls into their fifth song The Nod, which starts with a more conventional sound, but pretty soon Fitchies layered bass sound was vibrating everything and sounded like a helicopter on acid. Johnson’s absolutely enlightening solo melded into a giant crescendo with the core of the band. Johnson appeared to be looping his riffs then using a wah pedal to overdub onto those loops. The song faded out with these amazing guitar sounds.

Shiverman started with Dukie looping his vocals and some nice subtle harmonica from Hopepa. Soon joined by the tenor sax then the rest of the band. Dukie called on a guest MC/singer who did some B-Boy two stepping around the stage, and then ripped up the mic front and centre. He was very animated and knew how to work the crowd. He froze on stage left with his mic pointed out into the crowd to allow Dukie to start singing again, followed by a trombone solo. The full horn section exploded into a riot of sound, bringing to mind that these guys’ songs are almost like modern classical arrangements. The song wound down to Dukies crooning and ended with some sweet harmonica licks by Hopepa.

The band exited and the crowd stomped the floor in unison, begging for more. After a few minutes of customary encore cheering the B-Boy MC jumps onstage, like a jester, to work the crowd. Fitchie returned with some sample pad beats to let the capable B-Boy do some wicked free styling. The horn section slid onstage to join in and before you know it the whole band is fully into their encore song Midnight Marauders. This final song sounds like it is influenced by one-drop reggae but of course features many smooth breakdowns, build ups, horn solos and even takes on a big band sound at one point. All the while the rhythm section held the fort like a fortress of sound. Fitchie busted into some drum and bass/break beat rhythms. The horns dropped out and the song wound down with the ever-present gospel of Dukie. This song sounded like it has had many incarnations and will probably have many more to come.

This was the first stop on their world tour showcasing their new album, Dr. Boondigga and the Big BW. The crowd was appeased, as they should be after watching the soon to be legendary FFD pull off a two hour set with seven seamless songs and a whole lotta dubbed up soul!

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE GIG HERE