As always, it's difficult to really describe these wonderful events, i feel so inadequate, but i also know that i'd like to hear snippets from the
shows i can't make, so for the benefit of those that are unable to see MWP and The Mood Maidens here is a short decription, i hope you enjoy...
The Sando is a sydney live music icon, home to most bands that made it in sydney, a landmark i guess. Upstairs is a small intimate area, plush looking without being plush, yet kinda simple and atmospheric, with redish walls and curtains, a small stage. Candlight and incense add to the ambience, plus the friendly faces of people that i have come to meet at these preformances, Laticia, Andrew, Julia and Tiare especially![<img src=]()
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These days sydney seems to be sufferring from a glut of pub rock bands and thrashy, loud grungy inane kinda music, it's refreshing to experince a polished sophisticated and elegant sound. There's something timeless about this music, the wonderful strings and keyboards just morph seamlessly with MWP's songs and the new origional songs that are not recorded anywhere are so sublime and perfect that it's hard not to feel a deep emotional response. The songs themselves range from melancholic (lullaby for the lonely), epic (luscious ghost) to emersive, (feed your mind) and played so seamlessly and effortlessly and with such respect and love that the overall sound is a joyous celebration of live music. Marty often comments on how Mozart and the greatest Jazz Preformers all played exclusivly live, never once entering a studio and although i'd love a Moon Maidens cd for the collection, there is something fundementally graceful and unique about this idea. Marty as ever is a virtuoso amongst peers but also offers something that i never see anymore, an interaction with his audience that is stimulating, intelligent and very funny. (I have to say that for such a serious band as The Church, they are all such funny, witty people, i sometimes think i am watching a stand up routine with music)
In between songs we skip from subjects as diverse as Ingmar Bergman films (persona, was recommended and coincedently features this week on sbs if you're in town), english humour (we take the piss while others just laugh) and the city of Venice (to build on water a sign of hubris?), all with a certain whimsical irreverance and passion, very refreshing in an age of dumbing down, where you're preformers idea of interaction is to say, 'Are ya having a good time?'
Well I am not sure how many more gigs are on the horizen for Marty and The Maidens, i've seen as many as i can and i have to say they get better and better, the band were absolutley in the zone, cooking with gas, a number of the audience made verifing comments and it sure sounded like it couldn't get better, but with these guys it always does. If you're able to and have the oppurtunity to catch these preformances, do it, because they are very special events and the music is so wonderful i guarentee you will come away smiling.
ps from ye old church catalouge marty played 'dis enchanted' and 'tristesse and 'chromiun.' Plus a new song that is absolutly divine called, 'tomorrow.'
Check out the downloads at MWP's web site.
The Sando is a sydney live music icon, home to most bands that made it in sydney, a landmark i guess. Upstairs is a small intimate area, plush looking without being plush, yet kinda simple and atmospheric, with redish walls and curtains, a small stage. Candlight and incense add to the ambience, plus the friendly faces of people that i have come to meet at these preformances, Laticia, Andrew, Julia and Tiare especially
These days sydney seems to be sufferring from a glut of pub rock bands and thrashy, loud grungy inane kinda music, it's refreshing to experince a polished sophisticated and elegant sound. There's something timeless about this music, the wonderful strings and keyboards just morph seamlessly with MWP's songs and the new origional songs that are not recorded anywhere are so sublime and perfect that it's hard not to feel a deep emotional response. The songs themselves range from melancholic (lullaby for the lonely), epic (luscious ghost) to emersive, (feed your mind) and played so seamlessly and effortlessly and with such respect and love that the overall sound is a joyous celebration of live music. Marty often comments on how Mozart and the greatest Jazz Preformers all played exclusivly live, never once entering a studio and although i'd love a Moon Maidens cd for the collection, there is something fundementally graceful and unique about this idea. Marty as ever is a virtuoso amongst peers but also offers something that i never see anymore, an interaction with his audience that is stimulating, intelligent and very funny. (I have to say that for such a serious band as The Church, they are all such funny, witty people, i sometimes think i am watching a stand up routine with music)
In between songs we skip from subjects as diverse as Ingmar Bergman films (persona, was recommended and coincedently features this week on sbs if you're in town), english humour (we take the piss while others just laugh) and the city of Venice (to build on water a sign of hubris?), all with a certain whimsical irreverance and passion, very refreshing in an age of dumbing down, where you're preformers idea of interaction is to say, 'Are ya having a good time?'
Well I am not sure how many more gigs are on the horizen for Marty and The Maidens, i've seen as many as i can and i have to say they get better and better, the band were absolutley in the zone, cooking with gas, a number of the audience made verifing comments and it sure sounded like it couldn't get better, but with these guys it always does. If you're able to and have the oppurtunity to catch these preformances, do it, because they are very special events and the music is so wonderful i guarentee you will come away smiling.
ps from ye old church catalouge marty played 'dis enchanted' and 'tristesse and 'chromiun.' Plus a new song that is absolutly divine called, 'tomorrow.'
Check out the downloads at MWP's web site.
