operating somewhere between funk and flamenco
29-year-old kaki king has dragged the art of solo acoustic guitar back to prominence
with wild technique that blends soaring melodies and slapping percussion on her guitar
with an edginess that matches the temperament of her generation
so reads the womadelaide program for this sunday afternoon show
the timing and placement on stage 3 suggesting it is not a big drawcard
meaning the artist is still on the rise or has possibly peaked at a certain level
her age suggesting the former in this case - worth checking i suspected
got myself down in the mosh pit with the sun beating down relentlessly
there's a bunch of us on our feet enjoying the friendly atmosphere
a lot more people back of stage sprawled out on picnic rugs, etc
she's on stage fronting a 3 piece outfit - guitar, drums and mac
another example of a mac used on-stage to fill out the noise
in this case the operator feeding other noises into the machine
mostly by way of a hand-held flute-thing that makes an organic sound
then is distorted, enhanced, amplified, etc by the mac beyond recognition
mostly adding the necessary bass bottom-end to the group's sound
over on the other side of the stage is a drummer behind a standard kit
though with the high-hat raised high above his head for some reason
he himself looking like an outtake from a serious heavy metal band
and pretty well playing in the same manner with some big hitting
kaki king herself is centre stage and in charge of guitar and vocals
first impression - she is one very accomplished and confident guitarist
and not in any conventional singer-songwriter-guitarist mode of playing
the songs are there as is the band to fill out the sound as required
but very centre-stage is her very inventive noise-making skills
she has a very loose, all-over-the-place, melodic, solid sound
at times tapping the body of her instrument for percussive effect
other times both hands working on the neck and usually at speed
she interchanges guitars often including a lap-laid instrument
this used to great effect on a slower, quieter number in solo mode
there are lyrics and songs happening but they seem quite incidental
she also speaks a little between songs and tells a few stories
including berating her keyboardist for lusting after netballers
and maybe inadvisedly for this crowd telling us of her love of netball
seemed a bit odd really - but by this time nothing was unexpected
a definite case of don't assume anything about this performer
not sure the program got it right about funk and flamenco
but the diversity of styles was certainly in evidence
as they closed out with a couple of huge rock-based tunes
probably more suited to the big day out than womadelaide
but that's one good thing about this festival - anything goes
just got to go looking for it on the minor stages
she's really good - star on the rise i think
