Viva! La Mojo's!
Everyone was there. Saturday's lineup: Dolly Carton, Boox Kid, Polly, Georga Raath, Spunloves, Airline Food, Finn Alexander & The Forever Party
I wasn't sure how to take Dolly Carton at first blush. Being stereotypically-minded, I was half expecting a bunch of country-pop delivered by a buxom, jeans wearing bottle-blonde. Nope, nope, and nope. Dolly does gritty rock 'n' roll (possibly excepting 'Blue Bayou' to start the set, lol). Masterful covers of Warren Zevon (I video'd 'Lawyers, Guns & Money') - but where was 'My shit's fucked up!'? - and a haunting rendition of Me & Bobby McGee. The highlight for me? After a Neil Young piece, Dolly crouches down, I thought to adjust the foot pedals or some technical music thing, but she just launched into a free-form solo that I was not quick enough to get my camera out for all of. Would see again - and I never thought I'd be writing that about a cover artist. 😁
That feeling when a song you've been listening to on the radio suddenly starts getting played by the artist just in front of you. Boox Kid sings When I was a young boy (I had the strangest dream). Noongar Radio DJs need to name the songs and artists they play more often. Amazing voice, and knows his way around a guitar too. Aagh! I'm busy typing away when I find out (too late) he also does Sentimental Dreams. W00t! He's on bandcamp! Taped what I think is the new song, but I'm not near good enough to try to spell it's correct name. It also goes by 'Wicked Heart'. I like Boox Kid, when they rock it up, the music is awesome, but they do the slower stuff well, too. lol, There were drums, but no drummer. This was essentially an acoustic set, but I have seen him do a more electric gig at The Bird.
Polly played the third set of day one's marathon effort. Three piece (guitar, bass and drums), have a driving rock feel (no bpm issues, here) with a bit of wall-of-sound going on. Drums are constant (not quite relentless), and vox has a distinctive sound. Psych rock leanings thrown in for good measure. Not 100% sure I haven't seen before. One to watch out for. Will see again.
Georga! Ms Raath has very definitely gotten tighter with herself - which doesn't make lots of sense unless you know she does all her own backing vocals and instruments. Keys/Electronics(?) seems to be enjoying himself and the shows more. Really good set, the only thing wrong with it was it finished too soon.
Next up were The Spunloves. I really like this band - they play good, danceable, highly listenable rock with occasional boogie. I don't see them in listings often enough. In fact I think the last time they were on was the Winter Festival (with Georga Raath, at Mojo's). Either they've got better or I didn't do a good job with my first review. Really enjoyed the set. They can sing audibly, they're more than happy to rock out an instrumental break, and play through broken strings ("coz that's what the professional bands do"). The rock is good! Will see again, might even look out for.
Airline Food - only the second band I haven't seen anything of previously - were penultimate on tonight's list. Keys (then not keys, guitar, and occasionally lead vox) works at Mojo's. This place is just overflowing with cred. (Ed: next month the pub forms a house band!) Drummer was a fill-in 🤣 haha, geddit? Band are more synthy than I'm used to, I found myself looking for the sax midway through one song. Very listenable, could get thought provoking - I may have to source some lyrics. I got a sense of World Party inspiration. Yep, would see again.
Finally we have Finn Alexander & The Forever Party. An eclectic bunch, there's violin (or, given the inferred Irishness of the band, fiddle), lead, bass & rhythm plus drums. Don't reckon a violin belongs in a rock band? Check these guys out. That classical instrument rocks as hard as lead guitar. I like their jamming and enjoyment of the music. 😄 Would see again to get to know better