THE SACRED COWBOYS
Cherry Bar, MELBOURNE
August 12, 2006
Words & Images: RICHARD SHARMAN
of BLACKSHADOW PHOTOGRAPHY
It’s been a long time between drinks for the Sacred Cowboys and when they took to the stage a good crowd had built up at Cherry Bar. Back in the ‘80s the Sacred Cowboys gathered a reputation as a fine and confronting rock band who drew heavily on influences such as the Velvet Underground and Captain Beefheart. Their performance on Countdown led to host Molly Meldrum saying: “This is the worst group I've seen in fiveyears". High praise indeed.
Garry Gray wasn't looking quite as lean as he did back in the ‘80s; he was well dressed (three piece suit) and came across as a cross between Nick Cave and Jack Nicholson.
Having resided in France for the last decade, Gray was back in Melbourne for a brief visit and assembled stellar cast of players to play two shows in Melbourne. The Sacred Cowboys 2006 are Spencer P Jones and Penny Ikinger on guitars, Ash Wednesday on keyboards with Nick Reishbeth and Stephan Fidock rounding out the rhythm section on bass and drums respectively.
The band tore through a set of Sacred Cowboys started up with “Cut Rate Martyr” before tackling the Velvet Underground’s “Run Run Run” then into a string of Cowboys classics, highlights being “Nothing Grows in Texas”, “Bangkok”, “Hell Sucks” and “Highway 61”.
The band was tight and rocking (especially considering they had only had two rehearsals prior to the show). I guess that's what happens when you have musicians of the calibre of those mentioned above are playing.
Garry Gray may have lost a bit of his menace/shock value compared to the days when he wielded a chainsaw on stage but he has lost none of his delivery and remains a formidable front man.
The show amounted to a night of sweat-soaked rocking goodness, both band and crowd having a real blast – the Sacred Cowboys are definitely a band to catch if you can.
Click on the icon to v iew the slideshow of the show
Cut Rate Martyr
Run Run Run
Nothing Grows in Texas
Down to the Lord
Bangkok
Limbo Jig
Things to Come
Black City
The Censor
Cold Harvest
Hell Sucks
We Love You
Highway 61
