you could say ed kuepper is currently on a musical roll
the saints and the clowns both playing to large crowds
particularly at the all-tomorrows-parties festival in january
since then ed has been drafted by nick cave as a bad seed
which can only add an exciting dimension to a well loved band
on friday night the clowns played as part of the melbourne jazz festival
tonight is the second night of 2 sell-out shows at the basement
no promise of any further shows so the fans are out in force
a pleasant if not dated sound as warm-up by the lighthouse keepers
another independent band from the 1980's recently reformed
but there's a real charge in the air as the clowns come on stage
there's also some large cameras in place to record the show
the fan next to me in the know saying it's for live at the basement
it's an unrecognisable noisefest in the first tune - improvisation?
leading into their signature tune of laughing clowns
it's loud, it's clear, it's solid and they are superbly tight
which is almost a contradiction given that they are pseudo-jazz
but the rock component of form, chorus, beat and rhythm locks it in
after a couple of tunes there's a discerning feeling of unity
each member clearly giving their all and into the sound
alister spence on keyboards looking like an original now
a lot of time spent syncing his sounds with louise elliot
she on her large tenor saxophone playing faultlessly
convincing this novice that a player can have their own sound
leslie (biff) millar on the best looking stand-up bass around
whacking strings, all over the place, volume just right and solid
jeffery wegener again displaying his exquisite timing and restraint
capable at any point of launching into drum solo-ish histronics
but always instead choosing a single tap, crash or not to add the edge
as for edmund kuepper - he's the human lightning rod at the centre
is surrounded by a band of musical equals and an adoring crowd
but nothing is taken for granted - he is a committed performer
looking and sounding as one totally connected to his craft
clearly enjoying his time at the centre of his invention
each unique and classic tune played with total conviction
every one of them sounding utterly and totally contemporary
collapse board again the tune of the night for this big sop
again dedicated in my head to a departed friend and song-fan
a tune that i suspect that could not be played by anyone else
which in hindsight is probably true of most of their material
including the classic eternally yours which lives up to its reputation
every time i hear this one ed has worked out a new arrangement
tonight it's a quite loose, noisy, all-in introduction hinting at what is coming
and then when louise plays that riff it just about brings the house down
being at the end of the set means the calls for encores are loud
and the band duly obliges with another 3 fine tunes
wrapping up with bully in the town
just totally freakin' unbelievable
here's hoping there's more
nick cave - lucky man
