WAITING 4 ANDY
THE SHINKICKERS & JOY ELEVATION

FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE
FRIDAY 21st JANUARY 2011

If there is a nicer venue to see some great live local music on a night like tonight then I've yet to find it. The Fremantle Arts Centre courtyard is a great spot and tonight we have three bands that will all do their part in giving everone here a great Friday night's entertainment.

First support Joy Elevation have just enough blues flavour about them to get your interest from the off. They also have a fine mix of songs for those like me that are only casually acquainted. A nice opening mix of blues and mid-paced feel-good rock is soon surpassed with the song ‘Rocket Ride’ which is just that bit heavier.

Joy Elevation

We even get a great rendition of singer Mia’s other band Sister Mojo’s original ‘Rock my Boat’. It’s weird because I hear a lot in here: there’s a bit of Pat Benatar, even some Roxette, but all seen through a haze of bluesy noise.

Slower song ‘Shine a Light into my Soul’ was a highlight and Mia’s voice really comes to the fore on songs like ‘Wings of Love’ and despite the bass being a bit low in the mix for my liking it is perhaps the closing cover of Zeppelin’s  ‘Since I've been Loving you’ that seals the deal.

As for The Shinkickers, well what can I say? They start off with a Gaelic tune followed by scorching rendition of Santana’s ‘Black Magic Woman’ and what a bloody amazing guitarist! The take on Cream’s ‘White Room ‘ is note perfect and lets us know we are in for some serious stuff.

The Skinkickers

Breaking out a double-neck mandolin for ‘Journey’ is something I can honestly say I have never seen before! Another original ‘Weeping Willow’ let’s you know that these seasoned musicians are more than just another covers band. 15 Years with a constant guitar and bass and a number of singers makes Shinkickers an amazing Freo institution you’d be silly to miss. The aural masterpiece of the song that will always be associated with Hendrix ‘Hey Joe’ is the final word – definitely a band I will be actively seeking out again.

As for tonight’s headliners ‘Waiting 4 Andy’ the crowd reaction says it all really. They start off playing the CD in order and Mick is in great form. Tonight these songs take on another dimension altogether: ‘Quiet’ for example which I didn’t really connect with on the CD is a much bigger song ‘live’ and has the crowd’s expectations up a notch.

I can’t help feeling though that the slower, subtler, more delicate blues suit this band better and we love songs like ‘Resolve’. Name-checks for the Rockpit (irrespective of whether it’s us or the pit of rocks that the crowd are dancing in) bring an even broader smile to my face.

Seeing the band live brings all kinds of comparisons there’s a bit of blues, a bit of Hootie and the Blowfish type pop, a bit of rock and a bit of country. The appeal comes from the diversity, but that diversity could also be their Achilles heel.

The bare bones rock and roll of ‘Journey’ with its more powerful ‘live’ backing vocals is great.  The blues of ‘Elsewhere’ with its great guitar transports you in the cool Freo night.

New one ‘Right Time’ gets the crowd dancing barefoot in the Rockpit! It’s interesting how the dancers disperse when they play their more introverted and powerful but brooding songs: ‘Insanity’ for example has me thinking early Marillion or maybe Yes with its Prog-rock structure.

Waiting 4 Andy closes with a burst of Aussie pub rock, early eighties style with ‘Interfering’ and it fills the pit, even getting Amber down there with her tambourine.

Going just under-time we close with a song that starts off with a drum intro like ‘Love Gun’ by Kiss, and then just rocks: “I'm gonna feel your pain, I got so much to gain.” Sacrifice is certainly one of my favorites.

It’s a great night, a great and complimentary line-up which makes a great evening all round. You should all be catching some Waiting 4 Andy this summer.

By Mark Diggins

ALSO LOOK OUT FOR OUR REVIEW OF WAITING 4 ANDY’S ‘BACK IN THE MUD’  

Many thanks to Mick Parker
Check out www.mickparker.com.au