Project Description
HAPPY MONDAYS
+ THE LULU RAES
@ ASTOR THEATRE PERTH
02/03/19
(Live Review)
Reviewer: Yasmin Richards
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, under the guidance of harsh strobe lights and multiple MDMA-induced trips came a scene so prominent in English nightlife and music history, Madchester. Tonight, pioneers of the Madchester scene, Happy Mondays were due to appear at the Astor Theatre to perform their breakthrough 1990 album ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ in full.
Groovy Sydney-based band The Lulu Raes walk onstage casually in an unusual getup. From where I sit, it is hard to determine the exact age of the five men who stand before me behind their instruments. Lead singer Eddie is dressed in a plaid blazer and pant combination, kind of resembling your daggy uncle at Christmas dinner. But under blue stage lights, comes a youthful singing voice that echoes through the venue. Within the first twenty seconds of their set, I can easily hear influences from The Strokes and Neon Trees complete with the same beachy guitars and upbeat tempo. Despite the fast-paced array of the guitars and drums, Eddie’s voice has Jamiroquai vibes.
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Taking a break from the foot-tapping jams, the band bring in a round of stage gags to the laughter of the audience,
“Who’s keen to see Happy Mondays tonight eh? Look at me, I’m Bez.” (Eddie in a Mancunian accent mockingly dances around as if he’s taken all the LSD in the world) “I’m fooken Bez, man.”
When he asks later on, who is actually from Manchester in the crowd, all those who have cheered and forced their fists into the air now join in a Manchester football chorus.
While the audience plays the waiting game for the next half hour, I study the individuals who stand out in the crowd. There was many a bald head and Ben Sherman polo, five button up shirts resembling bathroom wallpapers, three bucket hats, two Arctic Monkeys wannabes (c.2004) and one Scottish flag…which makes no sense. It doesn’t matter who you are as a band, you’ll always have the ability to draw a diverse crowd.
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When 9.30pm clocked over to 9.32pm, we all became restless and as if needing to be coaxed out from behind the curtains, members of the audience wailed their Manchester football anthem and stomped their feet until the lights went dim and Paul Ryder, Mark Day, Gary Whelan and Bez walked out onstage.
A low hum of keyboards in the form of a theatrical intro to a Sci-Fi film echoed and encouraged the entrance of a whip-bearing Rowetta.
“Hello to the Aussies, the English and the Irish!” Bez screeched into the microphone excitedly.
In a force of pink, green and orange, the gentle strumming of nostalgic track ‘Kinky Afro,’ arguably Happy Mondays’ most powerful song, began and out emerged lead vocalist Shaun Ryder dressed in a cap, black bomber jacket and black circle shades, ready to dominate the stage in a night jam-packed with hits and giggles. Despite their less than youthful appearances, their sound never wavered from what we had all grown to love.
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In true Happy Mondays fashion, dancer and percussionist Bez, danced to the rhythm of his own groove, wielding maracas that he shook ever so violently. It was if this energetic, wide-eyed man had taken a mysterious pill in the 80s that sent him on an incredible trip and had never returned. His funny little dance moves and over-excitement had made for one hilarious night and at times, it was more of a Shaun and Bez show than a Happy Mondays gig.
After every song, Bez would shout something out into the microphone, only to have Shaun, acting like a less than impressed grandad pat him on the back with a laugh and guide him away from the edge of the stage.
However, it was Rowetta who I believe stole the show. Her powerful pipes on every track she contributed to came out as soulful pieces of gold. She was a well-oiled machine when it came to vocal talent, not one note was amiss and she was fearlessly armed with a beautiful, effortless range. But it was her addition to ‘Loose Fit’ that sent shockwaves of shivers down my spine.
I don’t think there’s a band out there that could even dare try to twist my melon as much as the Happy Mondays did on their successful acid-trip of a night down at the Astor Theatre in Perth.
HAPPY MONDAYS
PILLS ‘N’ THRILLS AND BELLYACHES
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Tickets Here
3 MARCH// HQ ADELAIDE
7 MARCH// EATONS HILL HOTEL, BRISBANE
8 MARCH// ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY (sold out)
9 MARCH// THE FORUM, MELBOURNE (sold out)
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