Just when you thought the world could brook no more such narrative, along comes the wonderful 8 foot felix. Their shtick is that of a group of sailors setting off on a wild and perilous journey, with adventurer Will Tait at the helm. On this night* they set sail, gradually building up to a rollicking, fast-paced mayhem, that had the crowd jumping, stomping and crying out for more.

Brendan’s carousing trumpet plays first mate to Will’s captain Tait. And there’s the masterful Kirri on fiddle, Francesca playing a soulful cello, as well as Steve on perčussion and others on delightful French horn and double bass.

This is meant to be a video from their myspace, but i’m not sure it’s working.
Excerpt from Amorcito Corazon

8 Foot Felix | Myspace Music Videos

..and here’s their performance of “Biggalong”:

Will wrote the final piece for first chorus by first chorus, so I’m familiar with his work, having sung it before. A brooding and dramatic number it was.

[Links]

• Upcoming gigs on their own WordPress site; plus
• they’re on Myspace, and faceboo of course.

* ‘this night’ was the launch at Open Studio, mid-May.

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Of course i must kick off with the very wonderful Flying Scribble, my favourite band in the whole world. Mal Webb at 303 was hilarious, doing mad things with his beat-boxing, a loop pedal and several trombones.

Then i bumped into some extremely glamorous and funky dancers from the first chorus band of singers, who’d created an impromptu dance floor outside Subterrain. Good venue! The dj was spinning plenty of funky dance tracks from the 80′s and 90′s. When i arrived it was Blondie doing “Rapture”. For a while we danced up and down the tram tracks.

Perfect and ideal, both at the same time.

.

.

Barons of Tang had everyone dancing at the Open Studio end of town, and the Jelly Tub Rollers took the dance party back inside for a whole lotta jumping. Lovely.

Ooh look here’s some more great shots: The very talented and wonderful Les with his lighter sculptures (how did i miss that?) (Thanks michaelpickard)

Plus the no-black-keys piano that lived in the Town Hall field during the entire music feast. Yes one night we had a play along. Great idea.

More good photos over on Lonely Radio’s flickr site. (Thanks Lonely.) Plus i found on flickr you can get the most interesting photos from high vibes over the years.. here. (“interesting” according to flickr’s secret algorithm that is.)

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How very prejudiced and resistant of me.

Because this was a beautiful gig.

Zeena’s friend Matt is in a band called Vocal Agents. They started the night with some lovely and innovative harmonies. Some of the arrangements were better than others. The crowd loved their version of Mad World.. it wasn’t my favourite. However, even though it wasn’t to my taste, i had to admire their talent and strengths.. and risk-taking. Really good voices, blending well. The bass guy had a solid deep line going throughout. Different people led various songs. They were a good intro to the night.

The Hazelman Brothers were delightful. 2 out of the 3 brothers made sweet harmonies together, and captivated the audience. Nice lyrics too, although i couldn’t tell you what they sang about now. Relationships and stuff.

Cadmium Waking have changed their name to Aluka.. they’ve been snapped up by Clare Bowditch’s management to tour with her, and i’m not surprised. Sweet strong voices, wonderful harmonies and really, really good arrangements. When the timid blonde girl next to the wall hit her bassy lines in the final song, i was thrilled.. why didn’t she sing in that lower register all along!! Enchanting sounds.

Could have stayed for the stars of the night, but we skipped away to catch the final number from Woohoo Revue at Open Studio. Ooh they were good. We walked in and the crowd was dancing like kids in a jumping castle. Fun.

i wish i could have been at both gigs really.. and i heard the Wesley gigs were good too: missed The Boys (clarinet jazz), but will try and catch them next Saturday evening. Apparently there were 4 part harmonies on the Wesley stage too.

Music music music.

Northcote is jumping !!

Cross the river if you have to.

Yum.

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From the tantalising tempo of frustration in “Perhaps”, to the sumptuous delights of “Besame”, Zu Zu had the Studio crowd jumping.

The night was hot, the dance floor was on fire, all because of this stunning and virtuoso performance.

mmm, more please!

Mmm Zu Zu at Open Studio

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Saturday night was so great, Madame Zu Zu was in fine form, and the Open Studio crowd so much more into her than at Bar Open the week before. Dancing everywhere. Lovely vibes, happy people.

..but then i tried one of the new crepes.

i was so looking forward to it. and i tested for buckwheat reaction before diving in; but i really should have asked. i must be healthy at the moment because it took three mouthfuls to set me off. so i went home, and fortunately had a couple of Finurgen tablets left over from the time i had to go to hospital after my birthday pizza night last year ..

The tablets stop all the symptoms and allow me to sleep. Good.
but, oh boy, a couple of Finurgen tablets would knock out a horse!

The next morning i couldn’t move, i could barely talk. Tim and Sam came around, wanting to take me out to breakfast, and all i could say was “Bbbckwhhht lllst nght, ca’nnt mmmv”

.. and i’m still feeling groggy monday morning;

PS Later that month: the new sign reads Crepes (Buckwheat). Thanks.

xox, michael

(image: hi dad by tashland at flickr)

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