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REGGAE SPYS
+ Woodhill
@ Paddington RSL, Sydney,
19th October, 2024
(Live Review)

Review and photos by Alec Smart (@alecsmart_fotos)

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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Reggae Spys, featuring singer-songwriter Craig Bloxom of veteran Aussie rock trio Spy V Spy, performed at Paddo RSL in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs on 19 October. They were supported by Cronulla band Woodhill.

Reggae Spys are currently touring the recent release of their debut album, Unity Gain; which features reworked versions of much-loved Spy V Spy songs plus a new original, R U OK? (for which you can see the music video here).

Woodhill, playing music significantly heavier than the catchy reggae-fused rock of the Spys, also performed songs from their debut album, Honey Covered Razor Blades.

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Woodhill, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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By their own description their music draws “inspiration from grunge, metal, blues, punk and funk.”  To this reviewer’s ears, their sound is reminiscent of Pearl Jam, with elements of Nirvana and Metallica. Plus they do a great cover of The Animals’ classic, House of the Rising Sun.

The young trio met at a Cronulla school, although, according to their bio, “the band formed in 2020 after their initial meeting in high school was anything but love at first sight….”

Singer-guitarist Noah McCallum is the focal point of the group, with skilled guitar playing, a confident stage presence and dynamic vocals, while the rhythm section of Max and Flynn provide solid, unwavering support.

This band is destined to make an impact, they have the right elements to achieve long-term success and deserve whatever accolades are rock ‘n’ rolling their way. The  crowd demanded – and got – an encore.

Reggae Spys, shortened to RSpys, which singer Craig hilariously calls ‘Arse Pies’, features Te Koi ‘TK’ Tarawa on guitar and Chris Lowe on drums. Their set features a collection of Spy V Spy songs, which TK revitalises with his own unique style, quite different to the sustained chimes of the late great Michael Weiley, the Spys’ original guitarist, who was the master of the wah-wah pedal.

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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History

The Spys’ early origins – or rather, those of founder member, bassist and charismatic frontman Craig Bloxom –began at Nelson Bay High School which he attended with the aforementioned Mike Weiley. The duo left to start a band, and relocated south to Sydney, where they met drummer Cliff Grigg in 1981 and moved into his rent-free property, which had a basement room they adapted into a rehearsal studio.

Cliff, an aspiring artist, lived in an abandoned house at 72 Darling St in the inner-west Sydney suburb Glebe, which he found empty because it sat on the designated route for the proposed Western Distributor highway.

Although the row of houses opposite were demolished, the motorway was never completed thanks to a coalition of residents, environmentalists, conservationists and politicians who physically impeded the destruction of buildings along its chosen path.

Sympathetic construction workers aligned to the progressive Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) union enacted ‘Green Bans’ and also refused to participate in the wrecking operation, which would have seen Heritage buildings in The Rocks and Pyrmont reduced to rubble.

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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The whole episode was summed up in the Spys’ song Don’t Tear it Down, which includes the revelation, “An expressway is planning to come through our lounge,” a statement that was demonstrably true.

They focused on writing songs about social issues with topics ranging from homelessness, drug addiction, injustice, consumerism and Aboriginal welfare.

Between 1986-89, the trio recorded and released four successful studio albums, Harry’s Reasons, AO Mod TV Vers, Xenophoba (Why) and Trash the Planet.

They were at one stage signed to Midnight Oil’s label Powderworks, and shared the same manager, Gary Morris.

Cliff left the band in 1991, and in 1993 the Spys released a fifth album, Fossil, their last for 30 years featuring new songs.

Craig played his final concert with the Spys in 2003, and relocated to Mexico where he worked as a chef for two decades, much of that time on an oil rig in the Mexican Gulf.

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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Thereafter, guitarist Mike Weiley kept various incarnations of Spy V Spy on the road, with Cliff rejoining in 2018, shortly before the announcement Mike had terminal cancer. Mike died on 29 Sept 2018 and Cliff launched a new version of the Spys, which in 2023 released an album of new songs, New Reasons, before Cliff dissolved the project.

Meanwhile, Craig had started a band playing reggae versions of the Spys’ material, which struck a chord with the fans. Fast-forward to 2024 and the Reggae Spys have released their debut album, Unity Gain, and embarked on an Australian tour to promote it.

In concert, Craig is hyperactive, his long legs carrying him all over the stage with a surprising energy that belies his 100+ years on Earth. He still has a great singing voice, with TK and Chris providing complimentary harmonies.

The songs retain their old energy, despite being presented in the new ‘mongrel reggae’ style. And the trio obviously enjoy playing together. You can hear samples of the new album, Unity Gain, or download it here.

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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Set List

One Of A Kind
Hard Times
Trash The Planet
Use Your Head
Dead Girls
Credit Cards
Harry’s Reasons
Do What You Say
Clarity Of Mind
All Over The World
R U OK?
Pease And Quiet
Working Week
Don’ Tear It Down

Encore:

Don’t Fall Asleep At The wheel
AO Mod TV Vers

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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Check out Alec Smart’s (@alecsmart_fotos) full gallery of this event HERE

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Reggae Spys, Paddo RSL Club, Paddington, Sydney. Photo: Alec Smart

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Follow REGGAE SPYS
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

Follow WOODHILL
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud

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AMNPLIFY – DB