LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide February 16th
This Thursday February 16th, soul trio The Ray Mann Three are playing a string of shows while singer-guitarist Ray Mann is back in the country after a year long stint living Berlin. They’ve been fortunate enough to tour and play with the likes of Al Green, Tori Amos and Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings and as an extra special treat, the show will incorporate live visuals created by Ray Mann himself. You can catch this show at Goodgod Small Club. Colin Hay, the once ear-shattering frontman of Men At Work will be playing at the Basement to promote his latest album Gathering Mercury which was inspired by the loss of his father. Alongside tunes from the album he’ll of course be playing past classics. At 505 local roots-reggae stalwart Declan Kelly will be providing the feel good vibes and as usual he’ll be flanked by the hottest musicians anyone can possibly assemble.
There’s bound to be surefire fun at the Metro Theatre this Friday 17th February as one the founding members of Jurassic 5 – Cut Chemist – will be laying down a gauntlet of fat beats, blips and scratches. A true virtuoso of his craft he’s also known for his collaborations with latin-funk outfit Ozomatli and fellow turntable maestro DJ Shadow and no Cut Chemist show is complete without an immense visual accompaniment to his music. Texan blues master Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges returns to Sydney to pay tribute to his hero: soul singer Sam Cooke and Hideaway not only plays a mean blues guitar, his gospel singing style is uplifting and inspiring too. This special occasion takes place at the Basement. All round Aussie musical legend Ian Moss has just stepped off the tour bus after touring with his old band Cold Chisel and he’ll be playing an intimate show at the Vanguard consisting of solo material as well as revisiting a host of Chisel tunes. Seminal 90s alternative rock group Underground Lovers are playing a reunion show at the Oxford Arts Factory in honour of the new compilation Wonderful Things: Retrospective. Their beautifully emotive work conjures up Joy Division, New Order and The Cure yet with their own Aussie feel. They’ll be joined by Sydney psychedelic group The Laurels.
On Saturday 18th February Gold Coast indie-beat crew Tijuana Cartel are back after a successful show at Peats Ridge Festival over new years and they’ll be playing a show at the Oxford Arts Factory with promises of previewing much anticipated new material. After a blistering set last October, Gappy Ranks showed why in a reggae and dancehall mad country like England, he is the leading proponent of the sound. So if you missed it last time you’d best make amends and head back to Goodgod Small Club.
Lastly, on Monday 20th February spiritual neo-soul diva Erykah Badu will be playing a show at the Sydney Opera House. In a mainstream world of watered down R&B, Badu has been making powerful music that is steeped as much in soul music as it is in hip-hop and jazz. She’ll be supported by our own neo-soul songstress Fantine.
