LAST TRAIN TO BROCKVILLE…SHAYNE P CARTER TRACKS BACK Friday 6 May - Bodega, Wellington
I’m a huge fan of Shayne Carter's from way back. I would have to say I discovered him rather late in the piece being lucky enough to see the last Straitjacket Fits show at the Big Day Out many many moons ago but it was at that time I was converted and that’s where I feel Shayne always shines. Live performance, the man lives, breaths and oozes Sex and Rock n Roll. I have seen him in many incarnations now as Dimmer, Straitjacket Fits and solo shows and he’s a true Kiwi Music Legend. This guy turns simple songs into a performance and stirs the crowd into a frenzy. He’s a great Songwriter, Singer and Guitarist but most people are not really aware of the later until they see him live and that’s where this guy is a force to be reckoned with. It was with these thoughts burning in my mind the excitement built as I headed to Bodega to see Last Train to Brockville: Shayne Carter Tracks Back’.
Orchestra of Spheres opened the show and what an interesting band to say the least. The each wore costumes the keyboardists both seeming to have an Egyptian theme while the singer was possibly a bear and the drummer like a 70’s hippie it almost reminded me of Cheech and chongs band in Up in smoke in their dress style. They were pretty tight and played some unique instruments with a homemade Guitar and keyboards. They had cool props and the Egyptian theme came through once again with Hieroglyphic placards at one point. It was quite dance beat orientated with some Hand clapping and strange vocal sounds at some points just to mess it up a bit. Not a band for everyone’s taste but I thought they were very interesting and would be keen to see them again. Unique and entertaining.
Finally what we were waiting for and the guys slink on Shayne Carter’s entrance generating a crowd roar. As I have said earlier I am a big fan and it’s because of the live performance that this is so. He talks to the crowd right from the start talking a little bit about the songs before he performs them. Kicking of the set with blinding versions of 'Done', 'APS' and 'Big Fat Elvis' he leaves no prisoners and the crowd swirls in rhythm. The band is just a 3 piece tonight but they are incredibly tight and the sound is very full. I’m very much a guitar man and Shayne carter knows how to play his. It’s an extension to his body and so the solos and the extended jams feel completely natural and showcase the sometimes hidden side of him in all its glory.
All the oldies; 'Randolph’s Going Home', 'Joe 90' and 'She Speeds' just pumped the crowd even more, smiles seen across the room. All too fast it seems like it’s over when he comes back out for an Encore and this was to me the real treats. We were asked which we wanted 'Life In One Chord' or 'If I Were You'. How is that a choice? The crowd was not going to let him away that easy and encouraged him to just play both. He ended the show with one more treat in an extended jam of 'Seed' from his band Dimmer. Although this last song was almost fifteen minutes long it still felt too short. Shayne always ends his shows with these extended jams and they are always the high points to me. I left with a huge smile on my dial praying for the next time we are lucky enough to have him perform for us. It was a very contented crowd that left Bodega and what a great start to NZ Music Month.