Black Cherry Xmas Party @ TheFactory, Sydney (04/12/2010)

Wed 15th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Being greeted by an aptly dressed door attendee I strolled into my first Black Cherry event. Their Christmas party edition no less. For those not in the know Black Cherry is a regular event with a high number of regular attendees, many putting a lot of effort into their dress for the precedings. A night of fun, frivolity, fancy dress, off kilter rock acts and burlesque

Settling down it was Torche Le Monde who first graced the main stage. A varied mix of AC/DC, Cog and some old time rock and roll altering from song to song. Maybe they weren’t sure who they were. The lead guitarist would have been at home playing for Whitesnake and stood out from the other members who themselves seemed to come from this decade. All being said, they were gifted musicians, though quickly forgotten when I moved into the Green Room.

Gay Paris describe themselves as a blues / soul / southern rock band, but I have never seen anyone in said genres rock a stage as loud or offensive. Sure I have a soft spot seeing a band with two fellow rangas, but any musicians as lively and impressive as showmen as these two earn the crowds praise. WH Monks on vocal, bald with one impressive long red beard worked the stage like a madman while Slim Pickins Podmore on bass, with a mighty red mop on his head who’s stage antics and look can best be described as a muppet.

After some pleasant burlesque (well I had to watch some to catch the vibe of the evening, its a reviewer’s job!) it was time for The Meanies. These guys have been gigging around for over 20 years, and they look like it. But age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn these soldiers of Australian punk.

Link Meanie seemed to be the one person tonight that was more drunk than I when he took the stage. Though it didn’t stop him reaching the microphone he was lucky to have the stalwart that is Wally Meanie there to run the show, announce the songs and direct the band. Their show may not have been perfect but noone up front cared, and with no doubt 10% Weird was always going to be and was the highlight. Everyone was having raucous circle pit fun, all smiles, all set long, and who cares about anything else?

So after this Meanies high those left behind and those in the know trepidatiously trod into the Green Room for Graveyard Train. Touted for selling out shows in Melbourne, expectations were laid with no knowledge of what was to come. And one may not have assumed to be greeted by such a subtle musical genre as horror country.

This is country music with a twist. Consider a folk slant, balanced with, steel guitar, banjo, coffin shaped scratch-board and the elusive hammer on chain. Add manly choir backing vocals and you should be picturing some high tempo murder ballads. However they also pull off a deep ballad and an alluring cover of Fever (the classic…not Kylie..). That being said, nothing beats the irony of dancing hillbilly style whilst being told how one day you are all going to be dead.

Their presentation is spot on, but besides all the novelty this really is a good band. I was not expecting to have more fun tonight than I had with The Meanies, but I was blown away. The songs are catchy, danceable, upbeat and all about death and horror, with songs like Boneyard, Mummy and Scarecrow. A must see act, and even bookable for weddings I hear…