My Friend the Chocolate Cake @The Street Theatre(25/05/2007)

Tue 29th May, 2007 in Gig Reviews

There was an air of age and fatigue surrounding My Friend the Chocolate Cake on Friday night. They are at the end of a long tour to promote their new album Home Improvements so can be forgiven for looking like they might have all preferred to be snuggled under a doona with a hot water bottle on a cold Canberra night. The soporific surrounds of the Street Theatre probably did not assist. The theatre is dark and warm and it seemed most audience members had partaken of a few glasses of red wine before MFTCC hit the stage. The only interruption to what could have been a very satisfying nap for many was the sharp, intermittent cracking of Greg Patten’s snare drum which stuck out like a sore thumb in the context of a sound mix that was otherwise soothingly heavy at the bass end.

David Bridie gazed out at the audience from underneath his furrowed brow for most of the performance. His between song banter was peppered with leftist quips including a joke that he had been forced to fire Hope Csutoros as she was pregnant and no longer satisfied the terms of her AWA. Xani Kolac filled in for Csutoros and proved to be in turn both elegant and energetic as a performer. She has a light touch and tonal strength which complimented the darker murmurs from Helen Mountfort’s cello perfectly. One of the highlights of the night was an instrumental piece displaying the talent of both Mountfort and Kolac, a gypsy romp full of rhythmic staccato melodies from the cello and violin.

MFTCC took the audience through some of their earlier material like It’s All In The Way, Kelly Kwalik Country and A Midlife’s Tale. Andrew Richardson and Andrew Carswell were demure onstage, hiding in a darkened corner at the back only highlighted when the occasional haunting melody from guitar or tin whistle floated toward the audience. MFTCC have a way of gentle instrumentation where a vocal line from Bridie is then passed to Mountfort on cello, then up the back to Carswell and Richardson to reply. The effect is mesmerising. Tracks from the new album included Hymn for the Carnies, Home Improvements, The Forgotten Athletes of Persia and Malaise which was also featured in the recent ABC drama Curtin.

Bridie still has one of the most dulcet, warm voices in Australian music and MFTCC are still one of the most aurally pleasurable acts you could hope to hear. The affection that their fans have for them is abiding and evidenced by a career which has stretched for a touch over twenty years. The ride thus far for MFTCC has been an extraordinary one.

When performing Home Improvements on Friday night the group gave the impression that they are in some ways wistfully looking over their shoulders to times past. Lyrically the song expresses frustration with the current climate of mortgage + plasma television = happiness. Bridie challenges listeners to throw their televisions down the stairs and share a meal around a table with friends to discuss the things that matter.

Bridie and Chocolate Cake seem to be doing their own acoustic fight-the-power style of salute. Though older they are still dedicated to their art and touring, not willing to go softly into that dark night just yet. Can you maintain political ideology and passion when you’re stifled by a mortgage and responsibility? Can you have your cake and eat it too? The audience seemed a little weary on Friday night, but MFTCC are willing to give it a go.