Breakthrough to Blues n Roots@ Mojo's, Perth (23/03/11)

Mon 28th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

On the 17th of April, the likes of Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello will be gracing the stage of the 8th Annual West Coast Blues ‘N’ Roots festival. The popular north Fremantle club Mojo’s played host to the Breakthrough competition finals in which four talented bands were pitted against each other in order to join the bill at what is commonly dubbed ‘the music lovers festival’.

The bar was brimming with a mixture of young and old, as the shy mouse-like James Teague and his band took to the stage. With his quiet demeanor and obvious stage nerves, you almost expected Teague to say “Um… is it Ok if we play a couple of songs… please?” This changed as soon as he started to sing and a hidden confidence took control. The opener of his twenty-five minute set was the easy-going poppy number Strange Birds. The set took a heavier turn when Teague launched into an older song called Live and let live. At times Teague’s sugar sweet voice seemed odd and ineffective when juxtaposed with the heavier songs, but it possessed that yearning quality which makes the blues so relative. He finished with the crowd pleaser, When Sorrow is Forgotten, a distinctly country number complete with banjo solo.

Next up were the Murder Mouse Blues Band, a group of experienced musicians who looked as though they had been doing it all their life. The trio opened with a stomping country-rock piece, and made their arrival heard. Intricate drum rhythms were coordinated well with simple guitar riffs. The song Two Times, was a mandolin infused foot-stomping number, but was a little inaccessible and the audience did not respond well. The cutesy Doobie Doobie Doo and the Oasis-esque I Wonder were solid, and got the crowd smiling again. The mellow President’s Blues seemed a little out of place and was not met with fantastic receptivity. The band finished with the happier Jelly Roll, a fun country piece with an excellent drum solo.

The Moondog Blues Band was third on the floor presenting their reggae and hip-hop influenced brand of blues. You could feel Muddy Waters in the Moon dog’s autobiographical song, although with not much variation, the crowd seemed to get a little bored. The slow-burning piece Little Bit on the Side, with its Bob Marley beat and dirty guitar tone, made the audience pick up a little more, but still interaction between band and brethren was poor. After discussing his work in hip hop, the lead singer started up Be About It which involved a heavy use of the wah-wah pedal and included a rap section in the middle. Overall a solid set, with a very talented band made up of old blues masters and young protégées. The finale Indecision Blues was a more positive choice, with the other bands members making a connection and really listening to each other. The machine-gun style scratching solo was definitely a highlight, especially coupled with rolling baselines and punchy drums.

Finally, it was time for the last act, Minute 36 to strut their stuff. The Albany lads came up with funk and hip-hop influenced bass-lines. “This is a song about zombies” was the introduction for The Accuracy of Guilt, a song which had an almost ‘haunted carnival’ feel to it. The production of a bow halfway through the song, showed evidence of training and lent credibility to the talent of these young musicians. The set certainly had an eerie feel, and would not have been out of place in a horror film. Simple drums beats mixed with the meaty double bass and the simple and punchy chords of the guitarist, created a complex and endearing sound. Golden Glove Humility had the audience tapping along to the discordant yet addictive beat.

After a tough competition, James Teague was announced as the winner. His musical flair, his charm, his unique voice, his fantastic band and the diversity within his set has won him the opportunity to hang out with Bob Dylan in April and further what promises to be a successful career.