www.manx.com.au

Palais Theatre,
St Kilda
Sat Nov 28

I first experienced Ry Cooder in a brief clip on a 1970’s ABC TV show called GTK. Here was this guy playing slide guitar like nothing I’d ever heard before and in the background everyone clapping along singing “Alimony, Alimony”. I had to know more.
The next day I went and bought ‘Into the Purple Valley’ and then anything else I could get my hands on with his name on it. A few years/months/weeks later (sorry it’s all a blur now), I managed to get a ticket to his Melbourne concert at the Dallas Brooks Hall (1978?). Before he came on, I initially became disappointed when I realised there was no sign of any backing band on stage, simply an array of accoustic guitars and mandolins. However I was not to be let down. Once he came out, he ably proved what a master he was with each of the instruments and although not the show I had expected, I went home fulfilled.

I’ve followed every collaboration and move he has made since. Some I’ve liked, some I haven’t.
The last album I was trully enthralled with wasn’t even his! Produced by Ry, The Mavis Staples album “We’ll never Turn Back” to me is in the classic 1970’s Ry Cooder style. Sparse bluesy gospel numbers with big drums and bass and that lovely electric slide guitar sound that can only be Ry Cooder.
With this in mind, I have been eagerly awaiting the show since it was first announced that the band would only comprise of Ry, his son Joachim on drums and the added bonus of Nick Lowe on bass. No accordians, no Cuban bossa novas, no east meets west weirdo stringed instruments, just a basic trio of very talented musicians. I was not disappointed. From the moment they leisurely strolled onto the stage, an air of expectation of greatness engulfed the crowd.
Easing into a “Fool Who Knows” followed by the early standards “Fool for a Cigarette” and an unbelievable “Vigilante Man”, the scene had been set for the rest of the evening. Despite plucking songs from across a thirty year recording period, each one seemed to flow even if they were all more representative of the early 70s albums. Highlights for me were the previously mentioned “Vigilante Man”, “Little Sister”, “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live” and Nick Lowe’s “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding”

Paul Cashmere at undercover.com.au has a great review and covered all the nitty gritty details of what, when etc. Read it! I can only agree that it was a great show and should not be missed.

Two points to make:

No-one plays guitar like Ry Cooder.

Nick Lowe is a champion song-writer when it comes to the three minute pop song.