Intimate Live Shows @ Wellers

Intimate Live Shows @ Wellers

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2014-02-22 by Jeni Wilsonfollow


I am starting this article with a qualifier. I am a non-drinker but the day called for breaking the drought. My judgment may have been impaired as my notes were juxtaposed with the cheap pina coladas and strong tequila sunrises. For these and a bitters lime and soda I only paid a little over $20.



I have often seen the advertising for music melodies such as tonight's show. I've noticed that some of these performances are by well-known stars from my past. Remember Daryl Braithwaite and James Raine?

By the time I tried to book online I discovered that the dinner and show option ($129) was full so I chose the inside standing room option ($50). The other option, which would have been okay on a nice warm evening, was the outside veranda view ($30). There's always a silver lining – what was saved on food could easily be spent on alcohol.

We went early to secure a good position and hoped for a seat. The view was unencumbered but unfortunately there were no seats except for those who had been eating. This was an intimate event with only about eighty in the audience in a cosy little room. Most of the space was taken up with diners.

Enter Karise Eden (winner of the first Australian Voice). Her first song was "You ain't nothing but a hound dog' followed by 'Nothings real about love, no money, no house, no car…' this cut to the core. Her deep voice is seductive and it was clear that she has some die-hard fans in the audience. She has a laugh that could be heard across a crowded room.



It becomes obvious there is a bit of a theme in the songs. Her rendition of 'It's a man's world' had me near tears. If you closed your eyes you could have easily imagined that this was the voice of a talented African American. Aretha Franklin's music came to mind.

Karise's own song told her story 'Don't ask me why, cos the truth is going to hurt, gonna cut you down, better alone'. I was starting to think this show was strategically designed to send the listeners straight to the bar for more drinks.



It's hard to believe Karise is so young because she sings like she feels every note and lyric. I am reminded of Joel Madden's comment that 'Karise has more soul than a tennis shoe'.

Her 'last song' was met with a sigh. Predictably an encore followed. Why did she have to belt out 'If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right'? There's been a lot of cheering during the night but the room is silent now. If the emotional energy in the room could be bottled it would make an explosive cocktail.

No chance of burying heartache tonight. A toilet stop is now required. Are the toilets low because they seemed like a long way down and hard to get up. There were lots of bodies swaying until the end, some in time with the music and others not. No one cared.



Dessert was offered and looked delicious. The show finished by ten o'clock so not too late for a good mid-week night out. On the way out I thought I must have a look at who else is starring soon but my memory was as short as an intoxicated fish out of water. Luckily the website provides all the details and on-line booking.

Wellers is on the fringe of the Yarra Valley and has a lovely view. It has a history back to 1872 as a hotel, a Cobb and Co Staging House and a residence. Wellers of Kangaroo Ground is now a restaurant and venue for conferences, meetings and special events such as weddings.

#australian_restaurants
#cocktail_bars
#kangaroo_ground
#music_venues
#performing_arts
#restaurants
#yarra_valley
%wnmelbourne
122153 - 2023-06-12 23:38:06

Tags

Free
Festivals
Outdoor
Music
Markets
Nightlife
Fundraisers
Family_friendly
Community
Arts_culture
Food_drink
Educational
Random
Theatre_shows
Shopping_markets
Copyright 2024 OatLabs ABN 18113479226