NORTHBRIDGE

FESTIVAL

Friday, November 6, 2009

Amongst the usual Northbridge shenanigans last weekend was some live music presented at the 2009 Northbridge Festival. It was a free event programmed by Sunset Events, and a large part of James and Lake Streets were closed to vehicle traffic. This allowed easier and safer pedestrian movement between stalls, buskers and the staged events. It also seemed to keep the fringe element out of the area. Perhaps the city could consider this as a regular occurrence?

On what was the final weekend, local as well as east coast acts such as Kram, Van She, Vasco Era and The Dirty Secrets took the stage to strut their stuff. As Northbridge is generally considered a ‘night’ spot, some of the earlier acts had few punters to play to as the streets didn’t start to fill ’til after 8pm. 

As the sun set, using classic rock instruments and vocal harmonies, The Scotch Of Saint James delivered a tight, guitar-driven set. Being the second band of Friday night, they provided an impressive cache of songs to the early goers. They promised an album soon; can’t wait.

The Panda Band entered the stage at 9pm. It’s good to see them gigging more regularly. With a new sound delivered to us energetically, singer Damian Crosbie gyrated while he vocalised, causing some of the ladies in the audience to release a scream or two.

Ex-Perth, now Sydney-based The Dirty Secrets provided seemingly boundless energy for the large crowd that rushed the front of the stage. The Dirty Secrets entered dancing and with no breaks, jumpin’ Jarrah McCleary and the boys delivered an explosive set. Between verses, McCleary wrapped the microphone cable around his neck assumedly to save him time putting the mic back on the stand. This certainly allowed him more time to dance his face off. It was a memorable show, not just factoring he’d only three hours sleep due to an airline scheduling problem. 

After 35 minutes of 110 per cent something had to give. McCleary’s voice was understandably fatigued during the final song, Five Feet Of Snow. The crowd didn’t seem to care and danced right to the last note. The Dirtys never disappoint.

At 11pm, Kram the man slithered on stage. Well, well. At home behind a drum kit with his band Spiderbait, he was as easily comfortable going guitar, harmonica, keyboard, mini-tambourine and randomly sauntered between them. Much to the dismay of the sound crew, the singer even experimented with the continuous use of a microphone as a drumstick; destroying it in the process. 

He interacted with the late crowd, providing banter, crooner and at one point even jumped off stage to drum on the crowd barrier. 

Playing selections from his latest release Mix Tape, one couldn’t help but move to the beat. Kram twisted is body left-to-right and right-to-left while beating his tambourine. Ending with the single Silk Suits, the set can be summarised with the phrase ‘driving songs, driven hard to a pounding beat’. What a performer!

Great free Friday fun? Mmm hmm…

_J-F