25th January 2011
The first time I saw Royal Crown Revue, perhaps ten years ago now, they were amazing. The songs, the energy, the musicianship… the jumping and spinning and landing in the splits! After more than twenty years performing together the band could be forgiven for a decrease in energy, but really there is no need. These days there are a whole lot less on-stage gymnastics, but the sound just keeps getting better, the personalities more endearing, and the obvious passion more and more infectious.
This was, quite simply, the best Royal Crown Revue performance to date. I don’t care that I said that last time. Or the time before. Without resorting to the old cliché about getting better with age, Royal Crown Revue just keep being amazing, and in the case of this night at the Corner Hotel the amazing was boosted by an incredible set from Australian support Boom! Bap! Pow!
More than a warm up, Boom! Bap! Pow! were the enticing entrée which would have been enough to satisfy. You know, if not for Royal Crown Revue… They held their own and won the attention of everyone as their short set on the small stage progressed from hidden nerves to visible joy at playing to a room that was enjoying them just as much.
This band is all kinds of great. From their opener Science through to their reluctant closer My World, they just kept delivering their blend of rock/blues/swing/jazz in their likeable and delightful way.
As the red velvet curtain opened on the main stage to the theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, the very dapper Royal Crown Revue kicked straight into Dick Dale’s Miserlou. Of course, being an instrumental, Eddie Nichols was missing. But soon mister charisma himself, the front man to out-charm all other front men, was introduced by fellow founding member Mando Dorame. “You know his name…” he teased, and he was right – Eddie entered to wolf whistles and a room of girls calling his name, wearing a smile as big as his face. What it must be like to be Eddie…
Royal Crown Revue have been coming to Australia for over 13 years now, clearly for good reason. This sold-out venue was buzzing with excitement and sheer delight. The Corner advertised this as a reduced capacity night in order to allow swing dancing, and it was a good thing they did. The dance floor was bursting with couples twirling, while photographers, non-dancers, and girls with eyes only for Eddie moved among them.
Going straight into the super popular Zip Gun Bop, the mood was set. New track That’s All and classic Watts Local kept the dancing going and the smiles beaming – not just on the floor but on the stage too. I often wonder if bands who play as much as this one ever tire of doing it all again and again, but the energy these guys project and their ‘this is the best fucking night of my life’ attitudes seem so sincere that you can’t help but be caught in its spell.
Vocalist duties were taken over by the newest band member – the vocally gifted, and let’s face it, super hot, Jennifer Keith. Crooning her way through a cover the Andrews Sisters’ Bei Mir Bist Du Schön she injected some sensuality while the horn section tuned into their exhibitionist side and put on a show of their own.
Covers of Stormy Weather and Eddie-Jennifer duets When You’re Smiling and Slim Willet’s Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes were definite highlights, as of course was the beloved favourite Hey Pachuco! – complete with extended bridge which included some of the best drumming, stand up bass playing, and drumming ON a stand up bass I have ever seen.
The obligatory encore which included a cover of the brilliant Mack the Knife, made more brilliant by the witty banter Eddie directed at Jennifer bought the house down, and with it that red velvet curtain.
Sure the stockings were laddered, the make up sweated off, the big hair flattened from dancing, but as the band joined us at the bar and we took our last drink, the happiness in the room proved it was worth it.
Tanya Lumley
