McGarrigle / Wainwright - Enmore Thatre, Sydney Feb 7 2005
They're repeating M*A*S*H - the TV series - for the umpteenth time at the moment. It's on a different channel to where it was last seen but, yes, they're still the same ancient episodes as far as I can ascertain. I glimpsed one this week where Loudon Wainwright, dressed up in battlefield surgical gear, sits apart from the action and gently interrupts the flow by singing a tune about going on leave to Tokyo. I doubt whether his ex-family would have seen it this time around but, if they had, I imagine their hands would have reached for the Off switch in double quick time. They just can't seem to get rid of him can they? Not only does he inhabit their dreams and lyrics but he's invading their air-space as well.
Although Loudon's 'ghost' was evident all night, that was hardly the reason I went to this concert. Instead, I demanded some old style crooning, some down-home rootsy keening and some soft, sincere expositions of the soul. I needed to hear the movement of the family's sound through the past years - a history lesson in self entertainment turning into musicianship and finally becoming personal interpretation. There's very little to compare in the styles of the older and younger siblings and some would feel that this was to the detriment of the whole night but the slightly jarring contradictions in material were perfect for me. You could hear a mid-70s track from Kate and Anna (still played and sung with great emotion) then an over the top version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Rufus and then an excoriating attack by Martha on herself. But then I was up near the front and so the mixing problems that seemed to mar the event were largely minimized by the close contact to the performers.
Highlights were many but here's just a few: Kate's understated and touching piano accompaniments all though the night; Martha's 1st solo song (whose title I can't remember) which had a soft bluesy feel and a slightly strange melody; Rufus' strident version of "Poses" and all four re-doing their version of Cohen's "Who By Fire" from the previous week. And, ofcourse, the warmth and clumsiness of the on-stage participation which endeared them to me wholeheartedly.
Martha Wainwright's official site hosts some mp3s from her latest EP "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole" (which unsurprisingly is all about her dad). She has an album coming out in the next couple of months and it should be excellent if it includes any of the songs she sang this night.
Kate and Anna's slightly confusing official site has music all through it. I must get more of their releases.
As does Rufus Wainwright's official site. He's a card and a great crooner.
Although Loudon's 'ghost' was evident all night, that was hardly the reason I went to this concert. Instead, I demanded some old style crooning, some down-home rootsy keening and some soft, sincere expositions of the soul. I needed to hear the movement of the family's sound through the past years - a history lesson in self entertainment turning into musicianship and finally becoming personal interpretation. There's very little to compare in the styles of the older and younger siblings and some would feel that this was to the detriment of the whole night but the slightly jarring contradictions in material were perfect for me. You could hear a mid-70s track from Kate and Anna (still played and sung with great emotion) then an over the top version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Rufus and then an excoriating attack by Martha on herself. But then I was up near the front and so the mixing problems that seemed to mar the event were largely minimized by the close contact to the performers.
Highlights were many but here's just a few: Kate's understated and touching piano accompaniments all though the night; Martha's 1st solo song (whose title I can't remember) which had a soft bluesy feel and a slightly strange melody; Rufus' strident version of "Poses" and all four re-doing their version of Cohen's "Who By Fire" from the previous week. And, ofcourse, the warmth and clumsiness of the on-stage participation which endeared them to me wholeheartedly.
Martha Wainwright's official site hosts some mp3s from her latest EP "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole" (which unsurprisingly is all about her dad). She has an album coming out in the next couple of months and it should be excellent if it includes any of the songs she sang this night.
Kate and Anna's slightly confusing official site has music all through it. I must get more of their releases.
As does Rufus Wainwright's official site. He's a card and a great crooner.
posted by Phil at
6:51 am
4 Comments:
I managed to dowload the Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole EP from iTunes this evening -- hmmmm, a strong, tuneful, unexpectedly tasty little meal. Sort of a more coherent, alive, straightforward and solid Cat Power (they'd both shoot me for that one...). Guess we'll have to wait for a full CD.
Not sure I'd want to hear Kate and Anna M. again though -- I seemed to start finding them too fay or twee a bunch of years ago. Too pure or quirky for me, I guess.
By
Jimmy Little, at 4:19 pm
B.M.F.A. is really just an updated Dylan style song, innit? it's pretty good but not nearly as enticing as some of the other things she's written recently.
as for the mcgarrigles - fey is their way, i suppose, with a touch of acid. i'd only ever heard the 1st album will investigate them more now.
By
Phil, at 7:34 am
Ah, Dylan -- that's food for thought (I'd forgotten the old bugger...). It always makes more sense that way... (and I've become rather attached to When The Day Is Short).
So besides the BMFA EP, what's good to listen to (and is actually available)? Her website mentions two other EPs, but not whether they're out there or not...
By
Jimmy Little, at 11:50 am
afaik she's released a cassette, a CD and 3 eps including the latest ep. i still haven't heard much of these but what i have heard hasn't been quite as strong as BMFA. some of the tracks on these have been re-recorded for the new CD coming out in march or thereabouts.
By
Phil, at 12:08 pm
Post a Comment
<< Home