I'm an inner-city rambler who's happy to share my best finds with you. My writing turns up in the local street press, magazines, and more. (This week's pic: rainwashed squishy-flower plants, Kurilpa Street.)
I know, you probably haven't heard of The Suitcase Royale. But they're a really good band, and I'd be remiss not to tell you that you can see them for free throughout February at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
I spotted their elegantly moustachioed faces when I got my regular 'What's On' guide from the Powerhouse recently.
Intrigued by their fetching facial hair and spiffy name, I headed to Myspace and I wasn't disappointed. They lived up to their blurb: 'a rag'n'bone band of three banging out a collection of bent and broken tunes and dance hall songs straight from the swamp'.
Now, if you've read my reviews of James Cruickshank and Rattlehand, you'll know that 'swamp' is one of my favourite things, music-wise (if not in my backyard -- but enough about the rain, already). This Melbourne Trio does a great line in hoarse-voiced, double-bass-heavy swamp, as well as more upbeat twang-a-dang-dang numbers. See below for Messy Dimes, my favourite track so far.
If my word isn't enough for you, I can also tell you that they've won lots of prizes and they've played the Edinburgh Festival heaps of times. If you Google them, you'll find rave reviews, not just for their music but also for their 'junkyard theatre' performances, which incorporate puppetry, slide-shows and the like.
The Suitcase Royale are performing every Friday night in February at 6pm as part of the Powerhouse Residents program (which continues to bring some really sensational music to Brisbanites each month).
They'll be tearing up the Turbine Platform with their tunes, and also adding a little bit of musical devilry to the World Theatre Festival, which runs at the Powerhouse from 16-26 February. The trio will close the theatre festival with a one-off Sunday night performance on the 26th at 8pm.
So - if you feel like some sweat, some heave and some dancin', and maybe even some drinkin' - at least I've done my duty and told you where you can get it, folks. And all the best bits will be free.
