Posted March 23, 2010
SYDNEY TRADE UNION REVIVAL
Roddy Ray'da & The Kiss of Death Metal
+ The Cool Charmers
+ Molten Universe
Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills
Saturday, March 20, 2010Words by THE BARMAN
Photos by GRETCHEN WOODShareDo you remember nostalgia? That's the name of the game. Here we are for two rounds of rock and roll at the Excelsior, a cosy live music hold-out that's within spitting distance of the multi-level den of iniquity that was the Trade Union Club. The Trade was a playground for Sydney's underground rock and roll reprobates for most of the '80s and a fair spread of them are here to recall, if not relive, those hazy nights.
It's the first of a two-night stand and both have sold-out. There's a guestbook at the door, set up by Graham Hood who's one of the principal players on-stage. Chances are that if you set foot in the Trade - and I was only an occasional visitor from the 'burbs back then, not a regular - you'll know someone in the house, and there's no shortage of imbibing and ear-bending ahead.
It's shaping as a huge night. I have had the advantage of being out of the blocks early with a couple of cold ones at an in-store at Mojo's Music by The Soul Movers, Deniz Tek's ace band. There are a few starters backing up from there, Bob Short and his wife Tara Anderson among them, and both Mojo's and the Ex are home grounds for me. I'm joined in the front bar by Little Arch (from Wollongong via Melbourne) and Grrtch (DJ and podcaster from Georgia) and the pace picks up.
First musical cab off the rank is Molten Universe and I have to say I only caught half their set due to the catch-ups and meet-and-greets in the front bar. What I saw was pretty bang-on twin-guitar rock - not unexpectedly given that the line-up was half Lime Spiders/Adolphus - that was as tight as a fish's arse, if a little dour. Molten Universe is one of those bands that stands…and delivers. No gimmicks in evidence.
No Richard Jakimyszyn either these days so the six-string fireworks come from Ged Corben. Band-leader Tony Bambach anchors lead vocals with that thunderous bass sound. That's Tony's son Damien on second guitar and he does a fine job.
The Cool Charmers are well-steeped in Sydney rock and roll, containing ex-Psychotic Turnbuckles and Sheek the Shayk members Vince Cuscuna and Steve "Danno" Lorkin on guitars, Sheek drummer Tim Chillingworth and the aforementioned Hoody (ex-Johnnys) and vocals and bass. Lorks was the organiser of the Revival, so there's some multi-skilling going on. He manages to get a slideshow and three bands running on time in the same way Mussolini timetabled trains. No mean feat at a show like this. Hoody makes sure everyone's paying attention with some patter about sex acts in the Trade's upstairs storeroom, and then it's into the music.
The Cool Charmers are hard to pin down stylistically, bringing massive does of garage punk and cowpunk from their previous bands. There's a mini-set of Turnbuckles songs mid-set with Tito from ska-punkers The Porkers jumping up on stage, tearing off his T-shirt and generally convincing many of us that he was Jesse The Intruder under his Mexican wrestling mask.
That guest from all the way from Atlanta, Grrrtch - who took these great photos - reckoned it was the first time she'd heard anyone tackle "The Crusher" live - which just goes to show the Turnbuckles would have been right up most people's alleys if they'd gone back to Pismo Beach. When Vince, sorry, The Wizard, cranks out the heavy duty riff for "Wild Scenes in Alberqurque", a good part of the crowd is ready to kick the doors out and ask for a full-blown reunion. If you're reading this, Jesse, your country needs you.
Even not wending their way through their back pages, The Cool Charmers are terrific; very rocking and a ball of fun. "Cherry Bomb" lifts the roof. Then there's "Roll On Cool Charmers": Not many bands can get away with writing a theme song about themselves. They did and they can.
Roddy Ray'da has been in more bands than The Eastern Dark's Bill Gibson (who is off watching Even this evening but gets up for a play on the second night) and we get a song from half of them tonight. He was an original Scientist, a Hoodoo Guru when their name was preceded by "Le" and he kicked off The Johnnys before going on to be kicked out of The Dubrovniks. The Surfing Ceasars seemed to be around, at least in their core form, for two albums and quite a few gigs.
Roddy's been dubbed The Midwife of Australian Underground Rock and Roll (as in: he's there at the birth but doesn't stick around) and it's a line I was proud of until he trumped me in this Patrick Emery interview and claimed to be Australian Music's Don Juan (as in being there at the conception.) I gotta get a new team of writers.
Roddy looks a million bucks when he gets up on stage, all swagger and style with an ear-to-ear smile. And yes, he still has that 20 cent cheeseboard guitar, an instrument that's still spoken about in less than reverent tones by sound engineers and stage roadies from the '80s.
It's an all-star crew (drummer Paul Larsen from the Rifles, guitarist Phil Hall of the Spiders and Matt Redall on bass - Roddy never did want for players) but with precious little time to rehearse, they're doing it by the seat of their pants. "Girls Go Maniac" is great and even the dodgy "She's a Wanker" sounds good.
There's a problem when Roddy insists on running through a new song they've only attempted once before, but when it falls apart midway through, no-one seems to mind and living dangerously is all part of the charm. Sandi Chick (ex-Rockmelons and a Dragon compadre from the old days, I'm told) gets up to guest on vocals. Her mic's initially dead so it's a false start that only blooms as I'm outside buying another round.
She's one among many guests and with so many muso's shuffling through, the stage starts to resemble the Darlinghurst '80s dole office on cheque day. The Kiss of Death Metal lads vacate for a spell and Boris Sudjovic and Leanne Cowie (nee Chock), both of the current Scientists, step up to run through a frankly ramshackle "Frantic Romantic" that just about makes it to the end without expiring.
Hoody and drummer Billy Pommer step up for their turn, bringing up a pair of chaps for Roddy to strap on. This is the original line-up of the Johnnys (pre-Spencer P. Jones) and a damn fine trip it is when they leap into "I Think You're Cute" (a version where rhyming the chorus can only suggest "Can I have a root"?) This is major fun and "Mountain Man" follows. Only the hay bales were missing.
Say what you like about Roddy - and plenty have opined down the years - he's an entertainer who never fails to make an impression. Tonight, he's done just that and he looks happier than a dog with two knobs A few more songs by the Kiss of Death Metal bring the night to a rocking' if sometimes ragged conclusion. Played strong, done fine, as they say now the National Rugby League season has kicked in. Trade Union Club Revival Mk II, anyone?
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