silence can be like thunder

[reverancepavane]

Four of the eight Coppers Alive Showcases for 2010 were held this weekend. This is a set of gigs, each with a different theme, at various live-music pubs to celebrate local SA music, with some sponsorship thrown in by Coopers for the bands to do something special (from throwing a party or BBQ to producing really cool samplers of their music to give away to people attending the show. I went to the "Alternative Acoustic Folk Roots Singer Songwriters" themed event at The Wheaty, which had the impressive title of "Silence Can Be Like Thunder,"* and which featured Brillig, The Timbers, and Self Preservation Society. The Self Preservation Society is a solo acoustic guitar act by Tristan Newsome (although he was joined on stage by a ukelele-wielding friend who definitely could have done with some more meat on his bones). I'd heard him playing casually before (whilst waiting for something), and was quite interested to see if he was a good when playing "for real." And he is. Driving rhythms and powerful vocals create a strong blues and roots sound, combining instrumental, songs, and spoken word pieces into an interesting folk performance. Well worth seeing. The Timbers is a very energetic (the term explosive does come to mind) experience well worth seeing live. A strong roots appeal with elements of gypsy punk [which I think means that Sarah played violin very energetically. Very very good. Definitely worth making a trip out to see them if they are playing. Although they really need to be playing for a room full of mad whirling gypsy, or even Irish or Scottish, dancers. Definitely foot-stomping time. In comparison, the final act, Brillig, appeared even more sombre than normal. They broke their tradition with only singing songs concerning death by adding Springtime in Kyoto to the line-up, which resulted in one anguished cry from a Timbers fan as to why they didn't make a video of that one. [It is a very nice song that they don't play that often.] I like this group, not just for the sombre elegance, but also for the haunting vocals of Elizabeth and Matt. This was capped off with an all-in performance of Bob Dylan's Lovesick by all eight performers and a skeleton with a ukelele. Watch on YouTube Also take a look at this and this for some of just The Timbers. The cool thing for people attending this gig was a very nicely produced playbill folder complete with sample CD in an Old West** style, which also serves as an excellent teaser for the bands to give out. The gigs continue next weekend at Jive (Pop), Jade Monkey (Rock & Roll), The Promethean (Funk, R&B, Neo-Soul), and Adelaide UniBar (Hip Hop). Details here. * From the Bob Dylan song Lovesick. Yep. I was heading towards the country-side of folk this evening and knew it. Yee-hah! ** Hmmm. I must point out some of the Western Steampunk*** genre to Matt. It will make him a lot happier with the idea of it (his previous experience of the genre was playing at the Steampunk LARP at the Fringe last year, which was definitely a Neovictorian affair). *** Speaking of which, one attendee at the gig did an excellent job of dressing up in pseudo-period. Extremely impressive. [Although given that she was apparently the production director for CG hair and fabric drapery in the recent Alice in Wonderland, she no doubt has excellent credentials in this regard. Well actually, given the evidence of her dress she does indeed have not only the credentials but the evidence to back it up.] Although I suspect she was scared by why this large scarey and hairy person was talking to her (even if it was just to complement her on her attire). Makes me wish I still had the capability to do something in that regard.**** **** PS: There is another Steampunk event happening at the Fringe next year. But it's a Secret.