Dave Faulkner @ Fremantle ArtsCentre, Perth (14/11/10)

Sat 20th Nov, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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Set within the inner courtyard of the historical Fremantle Arts Centre, stars of Australian music open up during this intimate series of music and conversation known as The Sonic Sessions. Tonight, a living legend of Australian music, Dave Faulkner, a founding member of Hoodoo Gurus is the centre of attention. From his start in the punk scene in 1970s Perth, to the ARIA Hall of Fame thirty years later, Faulkner is one of Australia’s most successful musicians. Host, Lucky Oceans lead the conversation allowing Faulkner to answer and elaborate on subjects of interest. Listners, sitting back, glass of wine or beer in hand, blankets at the ready, are made to feel included and part of the family.

Faulkner on his Martin D28 was accompanied by Oceans on his Franklin Lap Steel slide guitar which provided an intriguing mix of aural pleasures. The two were a perfect complement.

Everyone was silent as they listened to Faulkner’s story, but are eager to join in the conversation when opportunity arises. It is a comfortable and unique atmosphere, and so far, Sonic Sessions is the only experience of this kind in WA. Faulkner wove the story of his life with great articulation. He was humorous as well as serious and engaging.

Faulkner was born in Perth WA, who also performed as Dave Flick. He is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist; he has performed with several bands, including The Victims and The Manikins, but is best known as a member of Hoodoo Gurus. He wrote the band’s best-known single, 1987 hit What’s My Scene?, which reached number three on the National charts.

Faulkner explained how he tends to hear words within the music he writes, and since meaning and sentiment can be expressed through words in various ways, he prefers to start with the music and transform the lyrics and meaning to suit.

He generally likes his lyrics and songs to have a direct interpretation so that people don’t have to think too much to understand or relate. However, when discussing the popular Hoodoo Gurus song, Come anytime (1989) he said it had a double meaning, both about passionate love and devotion to someone as well as the fine line it can create between total surrender, where one person completely offers oneself to someone, resulting in their own subjugation. He described the second interpretation as a form of prostitution.

Many of his other lyrics dance around the theme of death. Initially inspired by a childhood experience of losing a friend and losing other close friends later in life, as well as his own father. The song Death Defying, he explained, is related to trying to move on in the face of tragedy.

He spoke also of how some of his songs start with one meaning but mature into something more significant, based on new events so that the meaning of his songs is constantly evolving and transitioning.

He demonstrated on his guitar how most of his songs originated from the D chord – a chord also popular with The Beatles who were the biggest influence and inspiration for his beginning music, particularly the album Revolver

The whole night was enjoyed by the crowd who eagerly entered into conversation with Faulkner, adding various questions, and in return he provided much entertainment and laughs as well as a unique chance to hear him play solo (and with the accompaniment of Oceans). It is not often a crowd gets to share this intimacy with an admired musician. All who were present were attentive to every word and tune until the end of the night, which was unfortunately over all too soon.

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