The Fuelers, Bumface @ PhoenixBar, Canberra (26/9/11)

Tue 27th Sep, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The weekly Bootleg Sessions at The Phoenix are the perfect Monday night antidote to the beginning of the working week, consistently offering up quality local entertainment. Rockabilly rabble rousers The Fuelers topped the bill this week, supported by the unique one man band that is Bumface.

The Fuelers took to the stage precisely on the stroke of 8.26pm. Caltex Star, on double bass, informed the crowd that they like to run a “sharp ship.” After a few month’s absence, it was good to see that The Fuelers have lost none of their onstage energy, hitting the crowd with a trio of songs, including the swinging Rockabilly Town, before inviting some crowd participation. The Wheel of Fate drew three lucky punters from the crowd who then took their chances on the Beer Cactus to win such unbeatable prizes as a vintage vinyl pairing of Play It Again, volumes 1 and 2, some delicious looking chocolate coated army men and a nourishing beer from the bar.

Straight back into it, The Fuelers launched into Psychobilly at breakneck pace, quickly taking the audience with them down a greasy pole in Quick Way to Hell. Attempting to climb out from the depths, Blindboy Murray lead the way with the love-struck ditty Seven Days, while Caltex Star added his somewhat comic yet passable rendition of a theremin to the mix in Black Widow. After a word from their sponsors, the ever-reliable Big Man brand of power tools and the enticingly edible Pop Cones, The Fuelers offered the Phoenix audience a few moments of reflection with The Walrus and Time to Go getting a welcomed showing. A fiery tale of love, Hey There, Lotti, the discovery of who really wears the pants in She Likes to Drive and the double-clutched Mudflap Girls rounded out the first set.

While The Fuelers took a well-earned break, one man band Bumface was front and centre. What do you think of when you envisage a one man band? Bumface is anything but your stereotypical one man band. Gone is the guy with a drum on his back, small hi hat or tambourine on his foot, guitar in hand and a harmonica around his neck. With a radio mic strapped to his face, Bumface went “hands free” singing through a cheap Chinese megaphone, stomping like a wild man on a kick drum and a hi hat topped with a tambourine, all the while screeching and wailing on a guitar infused with country, blues and surf rock sounds. Bumface was nothing if not confronting, stripping down to a pair of lurid orange jocks held up by suspenders to extol his message of ending the oppressive nature of clothing in (No more) Pants Oppression. He remained this way for the entirety of the set, obliging the crowd’s call for an encore and proving, beyond doubt, that his style truly is “beyond criticism.” Potentially also interpretation but that’s another story.

Not to be outdone, The Fuelers returned to the stage, handing out 3D glasses prior to playing Broke Spoke so that the audience could experience the full spaghetti western scene, complete, for some reason, with a bevy of carrots. Innovation was on show with an advert for the new kick start Big Man power tool option, the action of which was ably demonstrated by Blindboy Murray, a development which any proverbial, limp wristed Loser of the County will no doubt appreciate. Highlighting their considerable back catalogue and diversity, The Fuelers took the audience on a journey through love in Tattoo, outer space and even what it feels like to spend 8 Seconds in the Saddle. Further messages from the sponsors, Big Man, the memorable yet tragically short lived groovy grape flavoured Pop Cones and the optically enhancing Rev Specs, preceded Broke Thing Bogey, the sad tale of the repeated technological thwarting of a music lover’s cravings to hear his favourite song.

Luckily for live music lovers in The Phoenix, there was plenty of music yet to come and abundant room for dancing and playing games such as Pants On in the aisles, much to Bumface’s vocal protests. The Fuelers kept the crowd going to the very end, producing tune after tune of danceable delights, including I Can’t Get Up and Hot Stompin’ Betty, before ably Walkin’ the High Steel, with Thingamy Bob impressing all by using everything in reach to belt out the rhythm, including the nearby strings of Caltex Star’s double bass, before heading into the night via Lonsdale Street.