^ hoi hoi ^ ... ^ hoi hoi ^ ... ^ hoi hoi ^ ...

It was interesting how many people didn't read the OzAsia website, or even took the hint printed on the ticket ["Dancing permitted in the stalls"], for when The Dhol Foundation came out, only four people stood up to start dancing. And yes, I was one of them. Of course. Anyway, it was almost impossible for the audience to resist the infectious rhythms, and by the end of the second number almost everyone in the stalls was on their feet dancing. Well, the women were dancing and the men were on their feet (to the 90% percentile, anyway; eventually they realised that nobody could actually see them and so relaxed and bopped to the music). Dancing in the Festival Theatre was strange, and it was probably a good thing that the person next to me didn't show up, given that my natural stance is actually slightly wider than the seat space. Mostly I needed to keep my feet where they were, which was unnatural; although at the end, I did essay a proper standing jig for one of their Irish jigs (in case you don't know, Johnny Kalsi is the dhol player from Afro Celt Sound System* so his group plays in many styles, not just the traditional Punjabi songs. So expect some reggae, lots or Irish, and some other stuff. [And speaking of which, do not try traditional Punjabi dancing when you have a damaged rotator cuff. Ouchy.] Anyway it was a great gig. If you are Melbourne on Sunday, go see them at the Arts Centre, listen to them, and (hopefully you will be able to) dance. "Hoi! Hoi!" [They also released a special pre-release "promo" edition of the latest album Drumstruck.] * Johnny specifically said he was not allowed to tell anyone that Afro Celt would be in Adelaide next March. He very specifically didn't tell anybody.