Project Description
JEFF MARTIN
The Basement Canberra
(15 July 2018)
Live Review
Reviewer – Benjamin Smith
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In addition to being the voice and the face of mystic trio The Tea Party, Canadian Jeff Martin has forged himself a pretty decent solo career since they first went on hiatus in ‘05. As a now permanent resident of Australia, local audiences are graced with his presence with a frequency that’s familiar enough to allow for a real bond.
With an impressive rotation of 12 string guitars and something that looked like some kind of hybrid bouzouki, Martin sat in the centre of a stage on a stool and played a set defined by an intimate intensity.
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Photo – John de Haan
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Playing a combination of his own songs woven through with covers that merged seamlessly from one to the next, Martin spoke often about the EP release Stars in the Sand and the process of recording on location in Morocco. His music has, for a long time, been associated with the rhythms of the east and time signatures developed as a result of heavy world music influences. Those things make for interesting additions, adding colour to the overall performance but for the most part the focus is on the intricacy of Martin’s skills as a guitarist and the depth and quality of his voice which, quite apart from his unusual influences, has a unique otherworldly quality to it.
Tea Party fans, and Jeff Martin fans by extension, have a tendency to be somewhat obsessive. Obsessive in the same way Tool fans are or Trent Reznor fans are. This venue is a small one, and one Martin knows well. Because of that his audience seem particularly close to him tonight and in the moments where the music is ultra-minimal and his voice and presence are at their most powerful, the effect is completely electric.
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Photo – John de Haan
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Opening for Martin tonight was a kid by the name of Mitch King. He did kind of a one man band thing with a guitar, bass drum, vocals and a miked up blues harp. He played a little slide guitar and he certainly understands the blues. His voice is strong enough to hold its own against his pretty talented musicality and during the set Martin calls him up on stage to play a little harmonica in a call and response thing. He might have been a little intimidated by Martin and his command of the stage but when the stage was his he made it his own and he kept up with Martin well enough.
Martin’s tour continues with King and they make for a pretty good night out. Also, the EP Stars in the Sand isn’t available anywhere online, its only being sold at the shows as a treat for his most devoted fans. They’re almost worth getting along to for that alone.
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