Club Acoustica - Reviews

With nothing but misery on the television, it was a welcome relief to refocus one’s mind on something positive. Some of Australia’s most respected musicians got together on Sunday night at Sydney’s The Basement for One World Beat, a celebration of Australian music and the musicians’ desire to make a difference to the world. Hosted by noted rock historian Glenn A Baker, the artists gratefully donated their time and skills to help raise money for Here for Life in a special Club Acoustica event that lasted six hours and featured some of the country’s most established and respected musicians as well as some exciting new talent.

Part of the new breed, Field Day kicked off the event with their particular style of commercially-friendly rock comparable to the Goo Goo Dolls or The Calling. Delivering material from their debut EP ‘In A Moment’, Field Day combine sleight of hand lyrics with some deft drumming courtesy of Chris McBride and vocalist Dan Newell.

Another of the new breed is Brisbane-based Tim Carter. Carter has a voice that sends chills down your spine - powerful and deft with a keen ear for melody. With a new EP on its way, Carter delivered ‘Saturday’, ‘Levitate’ and ‘Fear of Flying’ from his debut indie release ‘Centre of Gravity’ as well as a host of new material from his forthcoming release. Carter possesses not just the musical stylings but also the onstage charisma to go all the way and is a major talent.

The same can be said for local boy Brett Hunt. Opening with what has to have been the most sing-along-able chorus of the night - the perky ‘Mona Lisa’ - Hunt held the audience in the palm of his hand. When he delivered a new track ‘Mr President’ denouncing the US’s current military action, he elicited more than the occasional shout of support.

Returning to the scene after too-long-an absence from the Sydney music scene is diva Monique Brumby. Brumby opened with her Top 40 hit ‘Fool for You’ before delivering the ARIA-Award nominated ‘Change In Me’ which nearly brought the house down with applause. With a new independently released album under her belt, Brumby had a new confidence about her as she powered through some of her new tracks and a cover of Neil Young’s ‘Harvest’. Her segue ways into her songs also provided an insight into her music that fitted the nature of the evening and the cause that was being supported.

Music legend Jimmy Little served us some of his golden vocals - smooth as honey, Little is a true maestro. His cover of The Church’s ‘Under the Milky Way’ was perfectly dreamy and you couldn’t help but think that Little should be a household name.

Capping the evening off was a pair of two of the industry’s true legends, Stylus’ Peter Cupples and Cold Chisel legend, Ian Moss.

Cupples offered a variety of Stylus material including the ’70s Top 10 hit ‘Land of Make Believe’ as well the title track from his ’80s album, ‘Changes’. However, it was his interpretation of the Lennon/McCartney track ‘Come Together’ that garnered the most attention, both Cupples and the audience in full, soulful voice to share in the sentiments of the night.

Ian Moss is by far one of the most accomplished and exciting performers in Australian music. Armed with just a guitar and a set of lungs that must have made fellow band mate Jimmy Barnes yearn for more. Moss delivered the hits ‘Tucker’s Daughter’ and ‘Telephone Booth’ from his ‘Matchbook’ album as well as ‘Angel Eyes’ from his ‘Petrolhead’ release. The loudest cheers of all though were reserved for his version of the standard ‘Georgia’ and the Chisel’s Bow River which had more than a few happy punters bouncing in their seats.

Glenn A Baker summed up the event when he stated that if there were an event that summed up the essence of what Here for Life was about then it was this event - positive music in a positive environment from musicians with both the talent and heart to make a difference. Thanks to Mark Spillane and the Club Acoustica crew for organizing the event.