Wintersun 2006...The Music

This year we mainly focused on the Rockabilly bands at paying venues. We did hear and see many other bands in the street. I have posted the pictures mainly to jog my memory, so here it is.

 

One of the first bands we saw were the Retro Rockets. The guys have a good sound and again Brian Setzer certainly influences them. The guitarist must have studied Brian very closely, as he even has a similar stage presence. Of course no one plays like the man himself, but this was a good attempt. The bass player was a bit more subdued this year. I hardly recognised him at first without his mohawk hair do. The drummer has a big sound and has an edge over the traditional stand up Rockabilly drummers. There is a lot of show in his playing and the band revolves a lot around him.

First pic is The Atomic Hi Tones from Melbourne. They had a recipe that revolved around 80 odd beats per minute for all their tunes. That got the dancers up and on the floor all the time. They have been around for a while but not in the same line up. They have a repertoire that crosses rock and rockabilly. They pick the gig to play whatever. Seems to work very well.

Next pic is The Flat Foot Shakers. Another Melbourne band that I've hear a few times and was very impressed with how polished they were. They didn't disappoint me again.

Brandi and the Badcats. An ex Melbourne band that have moved to Queensland. Brandi also has a Susuie Quatro show. I can see why she does. Her vocals are very raw like Suzie and the Rockabilly band suits her voice perfectly. I know they were probably a last minute addition as  Rusty and The Drag Strip Trio were on the bill but not there.. With that aside, they are very good and I would like to hear more of them.


Next pic is The Purple Drippers. They do sound a lot better with a good PA. and production but the only failing aspect is the singer/guitarist can't handle a lot of stuff on guitar. His vocals are OK. With that in mind, they should stay clear of Setzer stuff which is plenty identifiable and hard to play, even the best guitarists have trouble. I have yet to hear any play his stuff right. Another oddity is the drummer perches himself in the centre of the stage and is a stand up drummer like a true rockabilly drummer, but he doesn't use a bass drum. Rather, he uses a floor tom. Strange to see but he seems to have a good time behind the kit and jumps around a bit more freely.

Here is the Rockin Redbacks. This was an early band that reformed. The nucleus included Doug Wiltshire ( Chrome Daddies ). They were good, but the lack of a drummer sort of made it a bit thin. Not good for the dancers.

 

Doug in his element with the Chrome Daddies is another story. It's sad they are breaking up. Marg really liked them. I did to. At least we have many CDs, so they won't be totally lost  to the music world. This one of their last appearances.

??????? Here is a band that I can't identify. They were mainly 60s stuff and played and sounded very well. Even had the go go girls doing their stuff. And doing the right dance moves as well. When a band  sounds like the originals, then I'm impressed. These guy played and sang both perfectly. Beach boys and Deltones are hard to sing right. They done well. I just wish I knew their name. If someone does, please let me know and I'll include it.

Blackhill Ramblers. These guys are the "billy' in rockabilly. I liked them because they were different. I would go see them if they played in Sydney.

 

I don't know who this band was. I just wanted to show what was going on in the shopping mall. There were bands there, all day, every day with people dancing.

Rusty and The Drag Strip Trio.  A Perth band that I believe has ventured east for the first time. I  heard about them a couple of years back and bought their CD on recommendation. It was in my frequent play list after the first play. Rusty has that early Elvis tone in his voice and the band a unique sound. I was keen to see them play. The sound in the Tweed Heads Community Centre was a sound mixers nightmare I think, but the band played through it well. I was fascinated also with the bass player. He was like an octopus up and down the fret board. I hope they venture east again so I can hear their whole repertoire.

Street entertainment everywhere. These guys where everywhere playing on their mobile stage.

You couldn't escape music, and crowds!. Even the Coolangatta pub thought that their patrons would like music belting out at them while they sought a quiet place for a feed and drink. The one man band played at sonic levels and I nearly lost it when he started to play American Pie at 100 plus decibels.

The Creeper.  Well I know these guys very well. They have been on the hunt for a permanent guitarist for quite a while and seem to have snagged one. A young guy called Jordan Colley. He is fairly young but very capable.  I will always go where these guys play.

 

I don't know who was playing, but who cares. It was good.

 

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