The Coolest Psychedelic Cabert on the Planet.
Simon Posford is arguably one of the great Artistic minds of our time. A big call you say? In my 50 music obsessed years on this humble planet I have seen many great acts push the boundaries of what is possible but few shine an originality that defines there own unique sound. A sound that defines who and where they are artistically and spiritually.
I have been waiting over ten years to see the realisation of this show and inspired by the stories of the now legendary Mount Fuji show in Japan. Just a few years ago the prospect of Shpongle coming to an end was a harsh reality due to Simons frustration with the mammoth task of such an undertaking that could potentially send him into mental and financial bankruptcy. The devil is in the detail with this band, from the complexities of its production to the pure exuberant energy of the live shows they are currently alone without peer.
Last nights performance was a testament to the faith of peoples desire for such original artistic endeavor. Quite simply Shpongle are like no other as Simon and Raja Ram defy convention and send the bar and conciseness souring above the mediocrity of today’s re-mediated predictable music culture. It has been along time since I have walked out a show charged with such sensory overload.
By far the most impressive phenomena about this event is it’s completely globally underground. Very little press, mostly word of mouth and a big red flag to the power of social networking. An event for the enlighten. I remember a few years back when the phenomenal “Nothing Lasts” came out and I voted for it in JJJ’s Hottest one hundred. I was alone and lampooned on national television(ABC’s Spicks and Specks) as the lone vote for a a band called “Shpongle” much to the amusement of my un-enlightened peers.
Those who came needed no convincing as the place bounced hard to the infectious beats on one big communal high.
Apart from a litany of absolutely unforgivable mistakes and general inept mixing in the sound department, the show was phenomenal. RAja’s Mike was off for 4 songs, virtually no vocals front of house, Ear shattering kik and bass destroying the definition of the intricate production and samples coming from Simons HD recorder and just general Rock pig attitude. Visually, musically and technically this was a strong representation and reinterpretation of the Shpongle albums thanks to Simons great arrangements supported by one of the finest drummers I have seen in years.
So I apologise for taking these shots and their relatively poor quality. I walked in with my Canon 7D with a 200mm zoom. I was given my marching orders and thrown out after taking about 20 shots by a big butch man hating lesbian nazi bouncer who loved asserting her authority. I managed to sneak back in after cloaking the camera.
After all I had been well and truly Shpongled.!!!!
