Ganga Giri @ Fly By NIghtClub, Fremantle, 11/06/2010

Mon 14th Jun, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Ganga Giri is a unique artist whose vision reflects Australian multiculturalism. Giri himself is a didgeridoo artist and vocalist. He’s brought together a band of brothers from different backgrounds to tour in support of single Bayami which is taken from forthcoming album Good Voodoo. Gumaroy is an aboriginal dancer and singer (from Wakka Wakka and Gumiloaroi Nations). Jornick is a reggae/dancehall vocalist hailing from French Guyana. Dan Pearson and Yeshe Reiners on percussion and melodic world instruments (Mbira and KameleN’goni). There were some extra characters on the night including local brother Robbie who joined in on the didgeridoo for one song.

Ganga Giri has a unique sound because of this fusion of elements. Their act is also unique because it lives the message it sends. The message of multiculturalism and unity and embracing the different elements of modern Australia is modelled by the band by living the message rather than preaching to the audience. And it’s done in such a joyful way.

From the start to the finish of Giri’s set, the whole of the Fly by Night were dancing. Mirroring the diversity onstage, there were plenty of different individuals in the audience. As to be expected there were a number of hippies but they were surprisingly not in the majority. All sorts were getting their jig on, young and old; from looking conservative to pretty out there. Strangers were dancing together and just enjoying themselves.

The soundscape of the band was broad; from reggae to dub to dancehall to electro to earthy to almost techno at some points. The set was visually appealing, with three video screens set up to show varying landscapes as a visual track to the sound. Gumaroy was a big part of the performance with his traditional dances engaging and interesting. The emu spirit was an inspiration for some of his moves. Giri himself performs emphatically with his long didgeridoo that he swings from side to side. Apparently he has this custom made as a modern didj which has the potential for different tunings.

Speaking to Giri illicits that he used to be a drummer but had a dream one day he was playing the didgeridoo. This provided the impetus for him to teach himself and gave him the answer to the missing ingredient from the dance music he was listening to. So it seems that some kind of divine intervention (or subconscious inspiration) is responsible for the greatness of sound that Giri and his band produce. It’s unusual to feel like you’re witnessing something unique and progressive that just fits and feels right. Hearing a description of Ganga Giri evokes curiosity as to how it all would come together but being there, it just made sense that dub/dancehall/reggae/electro genres should be mixed and then combined with indigenous flavours of didgeridoo and dance.