The Perch Creek Family Jugband - Sydney, 12th May 2014
Words: Sam Strachan
Melbourne’s The WooHoo Revue were graced with the honour of being the first band to perform at Newtown’s newest venue: The Newtown Social Club. Formerly the Sandringham Hotel or the ‘Sando’, its opening night was also the last night of tour for the Perch Creek Family Jugband , whom WooHoo were supporting. The ground floor had been noticeably revamped but the venue upstairs looked like it had before the building changed ownership. Well, maybe it had a fresh lick of paint.
Oozing gypsy charm and colourful characters, The WooHoo Revue’s tunes usually inspire energetic dancing. So it was disappointing to see most of the patrons inside the Social Club sitting on the floor with only a handful of fans on their feet. One dancer tried to encourage the floor sitters to get up but unfortunately it didn’t move many people.
Later in the year The WooHoo Revue are heading overseas to tour Europe and play at the legendary Glastonbury Festival. To raise funds for their trip they launched a Pozible campaign which they didn’t hesitate to spruik to their audience before they finished their set.
The small space swelled in numbers by the time The Perch Creek Family Jugband graced the stage, though a lot of patrons were still seated. This was the last show for Perch Creek after a solid two months of touring Australia to launch their new album Jumping on the Highwire.
Their set started off with Let the Good Times Roll with Camilla Hodgkins tickling the keys for this jazzy tune. This was followed by Big Things Calling with Christi Hodgkins, in his dashing purple crushed velvet suit, playing the harmonica. The audience was assured by Camilla that Bitchin’ Betty Lou was most certainly not written about her sister Eileen.
Christi demonstrated his singing voice, talented beyond his years, in the spooky song, Something in the Valley. This was followed by Captain Thunderbolt (You Better Run), a song written, sung and led by double bassist, James Chandler.
Lear brought out the washboard for Mother of My Mother which Christi again led in vocals between sucking on the harmonica. This slow building song soon picked up pace and featured the “Jumping on the Highwire” phrase that is also the name of the tour and new album.
The Wayfaring Stranger saw the introduction of the saw performed by Christi, and Camilla downsized from the keys to melodica. Between songs, Camilla decided that it was a train whistle moment. Even though the rest of the band had tried to ban her from this instrument, she had the audience’s support behind her and she blew that whistle to town.
Where You Been was a song Eileen wrote when she moved to Melbourne and developed a reputation of not coming home until the morning after. A response to the constant interrogation by her family this song was a fun, loud and swinging number. Eileen proved entertaining and energetic in the lead.
The Great Unknown was followed by the first song that Perch Creek have written with a key change. In fact, they got a bit carried away and Why’d You Do That For had five key changes! Christi led the changes on trombone and the audience, most standing now, cheered and whooped each one.
It was coming down to the last songs The Perch Creek Family Jugband would be performing in Australia before they too toured overseas. Way Down Gown preceded Carper Catinach where Eileen popped on her dancing shoes and energetically tapped away on stage.
Before Perch Creek had even left the stage the audience was calling for an encore. By this point everyone had finally stood and begun dancing around. Even some of the WooHoo Revue members were up the front releasing their energy. James Chandler led the Family Jugband back on stage to perform Ain’t Glad and a mesmerising a cappella cover of Paul Kelly’s Meet Me in the Air.
The sound inside the venue was crisp and clear and many other musicians in the audience noted this afterwards but there was a point during the show where mysterious feedback in the speakers created some drama on stage. But The Perch Creek Family Jugband demonstrated their professionalism and talent and continued with their own dramatic and impressive performance.
Oozing gypsy charm and colourful characters, The WooHoo Revue’s tunes usually inspire energetic dancing. So it was disappointing to see most of the patrons inside the Social Club sitting on the floor with only a handful of fans on their feet. One dancer tried to encourage the floor sitters to get up but unfortunately it didn’t move many people.
Later in the year The WooHoo Revue are heading overseas to tour Europe and play at the legendary Glastonbury Festival. To raise funds for their trip they launched a Pozible campaign which they didn’t hesitate to spruik to their audience before they finished their set.
The small space swelled in numbers by the time The Perch Creek Family Jugband graced the stage, though a lot of patrons were still seated. This was the last show for Perch Creek after a solid two months of touring Australia to launch their new album Jumping on the Highwire.
Their set started off with Let the Good Times Roll with Camilla Hodgkins tickling the keys for this jazzy tune. This was followed by Big Things Calling with Christi Hodgkins, in his dashing purple crushed velvet suit, playing the harmonica. The audience was assured by Camilla that Bitchin’ Betty Lou was most certainly not written about her sister Eileen.
Christi demonstrated his singing voice, talented beyond his years, in the spooky song, Something in the Valley. This was followed by Captain Thunderbolt (You Better Run), a song written, sung and led by double bassist, James Chandler.
Lear brought out the washboard for Mother of My Mother which Christi again led in vocals between sucking on the harmonica. This slow building song soon picked up pace and featured the “Jumping on the Highwire” phrase that is also the name of the tour and new album.
The Wayfaring Stranger saw the introduction of the saw performed by Christi, and Camilla downsized from the keys to melodica. Between songs, Camilla decided that it was a train whistle moment. Even though the rest of the band had tried to ban her from this instrument, she had the audience’s support behind her and she blew that whistle to town.
Where You Been was a song Eileen wrote when she moved to Melbourne and developed a reputation of not coming home until the morning after. A response to the constant interrogation by her family this song was a fun, loud and swinging number. Eileen proved entertaining and energetic in the lead.
The Great Unknown was followed by the first song that Perch Creek have written with a key change. In fact, they got a bit carried away and Why’d You Do That For had five key changes! Christi led the changes on trombone and the audience, most standing now, cheered and whooped each one.
It was coming down to the last songs The Perch Creek Family Jugband would be performing in Australia before they too toured overseas. Way Down Gown preceded Carper Catinach where Eileen popped on her dancing shoes and energetically tapped away on stage.
Before Perch Creek had even left the stage the audience was calling for an encore. By this point everyone had finally stood and begun dancing around. Even some of the WooHoo Revue members were up the front releasing their energy. James Chandler led the Family Jugband back on stage to perform Ain’t Glad and a mesmerising a cappella cover of Paul Kelly’s Meet Me in the Air.
The sound inside the venue was crisp and clear and many other musicians in the audience noted this afterwards but there was a point during the show where mysterious feedback in the speakers created some drama on stage. But The Perch Creek Family Jugband demonstrated their professionalism and talent and continued with their own dramatic and impressive performance.