Os Mutantes @ Becks Music Box,Perth (06/03/11)

Thu 17th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Sometimes arriving ahead of time can have its benefits. This was most certainly the case when one man band Lewis Floyd Henry was found doing his thing before Beck’s Music Box had even opened on Saturday night. Starting his too brief set with a raucous electric blues version of Wu Tang Clan’s Protect Yo Neck, the talented Londoner was kicking ass from the getgo. The amount of noise emanating from Henry’s 30w amp was impressive in its own right. Add in songs with titles such as Transatlantic Transexual and Jetlag Hangover and the man simply won over any punters within earshot. Lewis Floyd Henry could and should become huge, it’s only a matter of time before he does.

Inside Beck’s Music Box were Mister And Sunbird. Currently one of the more interesting roots bands, their sound was a mish mash of all sorts of styles and flavours. Touching on genres from ska to latin, the band’s diverse musical palate was a joy to witness. The clear highlight of the set was Eggs for Breakfast which was about an adventure the band had involving voodoo and chickens, all set to a swinging upbeat groove. Mister and Sunbird fit in well with the eclecticism of the evening and made for an entertaining taste of was to come.

Of all the acts to perform at Becks Music Box this season Os Mutantes were the most surprising. Spawning in 1966 and originally splitting in 1978 after twelve years of chaos and controversies, none would have expected to have seen the Brazilian psych rock heroes grace a stage in Perth in 2011. Yet, there they were. Even if Sergio Dias (guitar/ vocals) was the only original member to appear, the new version of Os Mutantes more than made up for who wasn’t there. He charmed the crowd with his innocently beautiful dialogue throughout the evening and melted the hearts of all within. Graced in colourfully flamboyant costumes to match the band’s joyous mood, Os Mutantes appeared as honestly delighted to be there as the crowd were to see them. Dias met the crowd with an infectious grin and welcome before the band started their set in an appropriately celebratory way.

Beginning with classics from their early days, it was a treat to hear favourites like El Justiciero, Baby (featuring the beautiful Bia Mendes on vocals) and A Minha Menina in a live setting. The level of applause resounding from the audience was of such a volume that it took the band by completely delighted surprise. The level of approval didn’t drop all evening, even when Dias announced that they would play new material. For good reason too, as their new work is as strong as their classics. Featuring a suitable amount of material from 2009’s Haih Or Amortecedor, it was great to hear that the band have not lost any of their song-writing magic. Too soon the set came to an end, with the band rounding it out with an incredible version of I Feel A Little Spaced Out. Dias busted out a jaw-dropping guitar solo before the whole band morphed the song into While My Guitar Gently Weeps. If minds had not previously been blown throughout the set, they had been well and truly been by the end of the performance.

Of course, after such a well received set Os Mutantes had no choice but to deliver an encore. Finishing with a few favourites from their original album, including the classic Bat Macumba, Os Mutantes kept the crowd grinning all the way home. There could not have been a better way to finish off another year of amazing shows at Beck’s Music Box.

Os Mutantes please return again someday soon. Beck’s Music Box, we’ll see you next year.