The Hunchbacks
Toe Sucking Cow Girls
Roll Cage
@ the Green Square
Saturday, February 17, 2001
Not even 8:30 yet and already I'm lurking by the stage, beer in hand. Knowing that the opening act tonight is going to be Roll Cage, this was one show that I definitely was not going to let myself be late for!
Taking "Top Of The Pops" and "Popstars" together as indicators of the current state of health of modern music, basically a combined rectal thermometer for rock, I am just about ready to lay down on the nearest train track and let a hundred-plus tonnes of steam or diesel locomotive put me out of my misery (except of course it's almost all electric and digitally controlled now, just like the shitty music on those programs). What we need is a saviour to lead us out of this mindless, soulless wilderness to a place where music is still passionate, risky and unpredictable (yeah, and still bloody rocks too), not coldly constructed, prepackaged and pre-digested for easy acceptance in a wide range of target demographic areas, like a packet of detergent or some new hemorrhoid cream.
Roll Cage is led by someone who may fit that bill: drummer Ashley Thomson, Headmiles Records owner ("the poorest record company in the world"), former 10:30 Slot band competition panelist, longtime Panadolls stalwart and in the last couple of years percussionist extraordinaire with Brother Brick to boot. After years of sitting safely cocooned behind his drum kit, dispensing an uncompromising beat and the occasional indecent proposal to the female members of the audience while his field of vision was filled by the blue-jeaned arse of a Kenny Archibald or a Stewart Cunningham, Ashley has decided to sling a guitar strap over his shoulder and step out into the light at the front of the stage.
Following an unannounced, practically undercover, tryout gig last year which has become the stuff of legend, with Ashley and bassist Carl Ekman needing to be escorted from the building for their own protection by several bouncers after the ever effervescent Ashley managed to insult and upset practically everyone in the venue during that brief set, I knew that almost anything could be expected. However, what I certainly did not expect was how... well, nervous... the usually irrepressible Ashley seemed to be as he spent long minutes with his back to the room, fiddling with the tuning of his guitar, while the rest of the band waited patiently for the gig to start. However after several cycles of "just another minute", finally the band was ready to strut its stuff.
Starting with a slow, moody and intriguing version of "Another Girl, Another Planet", the band picked up pace and confidence as it went along. Aside from a couple of other well chosen covers, including a refreshing reading of "Arnold Layne", the set included three of the songs from their recent net only EP, "Rock'n'Roll Heart" (an anthem by someone who clearly wears his own rock'n'roll heart on his sleeve), "Stolen Car Blues" (a heart rending tale of backseat lust and loss) and "Wrapped In Plastic" (his homage to twin peaks of all varieties), as well as an as yet unrecorded Turbonegro tribute "I'm A Sailor".
Despite apparently coming to the realisation that being the band leader, chief songwriter, vocalist and guitarist isn't anywhere near as simple or as much fun as it looks, Ashley later indicated that he is keen to continue with Roll Cage and may even take the band to Melbourne. Frankly every major city needs at least one visit from Ashley!
I think my attitude to country music has been well documented already, but I can say with complete sincerity that one advantage of having the accordionist undertake the blue grass fiddle duties as well, is that at least she can only play one of those diabolical instruments at a time. Suffice it to say that the Toe Sucking Cow Girls played an unrelentingly orthodox brand of C&W which even I found slightly infectious due to their remorseless cheerfulness. Oh and at the risk of being labeled sexist, they had very nice legs too.
Top of the bill tonight were the Hunchbacks. Other commitments (the day job kind) have been forcing them to play as a trio at some shows recently, but tonight we were fortunate to have the full complement available for a set that showcased their eclectic range of interests, from traditional blues through garage psych to almost power pop (though the band has never allowed bassist/vocalist Carl Ekman - yes the same one from Roll Cage - to achieve his desire to do a set that is just the one 40 minute jam).
For a band that has only released two albums and an EP, they have an astonishingly wide repertoire to draw from, as they made clear yet again tonight by playing a set that only had three or four songs in common with the set I saw them play at this same venue barely a month ago and only gave the slightest nod to their recordings. Like Mr Thomson, they also wear their rock'n'roll hearts on their sleeves.
Now if Ashley could only get the Panadolls out of the pits and back onto the open road, unleashing a combined Panadolls/Roll Cage/Hunchbacks attack just might be the thing this city needs to redeem it from its sins. Even if it isn't, it would still make for a damn good night out.
- John McPharlin
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