www.echo.net.au/soap-box
MANDY NOLAN’S
SOAPBOX
livemusic
FROM MIKELANGELO TO MICHAEL‌
THE PLAGUE AND YOU When Antonin Artaud delivered his lecture on Camus’ The Plague to a group of students at Paris-Sorbonne University, they all walked out. The creator of the Theatre of Cruelty started by presenting an academic paper on the book about infectious disease and the human condition, and the Effects of an epidemic in the Algerian city of Oran. Then he stepped it up a notch. The story of The Plague is ostensibly about the transformation of the obsession with personal suffering when faced with a collective disaster. There is a sense that individuals, usually obsessed with their own personal condition, actually ‘rise above it’ in the face of a disaster that affects all. When Artaud delivered this lecture to university students he started coughing. Then he found it hard to breathe. By the end of his presentation on the plague, he died from the plague. Of course he wasn’t really dead, he acted it out. You can’t develop a thing called the Theatre of Cruelty that is supposed to disrupt the relationship between audience and performer and not do the obvious – die of the plague during the presentation. Imagine if someone did that now! There would be a stampede. Apparently all the students walked out, except one. I think that was Jean Genet. I heard this story so long ago I am a bit sketchy on the identity of who remained. I woke today thinking about Camus and that book which I read such a long time ago – that stunning chronicle in the scene of human suffering. It feels very timely. Right now the world is gripped by a plague, COVID-19 as we know it. I have wondered about the name. Was there a COVID4? Or -5? It’s named like an iPhone and gives the appearance that this is the latest version. Except in this case no one wants to be an early adopter. Every newsfeed is awash with headlines‌ ‘Hobart man ignored COVID-19 quarantine’, ‘Boy Scouts hold coronavirus training in Milton’, ‘World-famous SXSW festival Cancelled over Covid-19 fears’, ‘Single toilet paper roll sells for $1000’. And yes, that’s true; A NSW man bought a single Woolies homebrand two-ply roll, with a butterfly imprint, for $1k. A 32 pack of Kleenex toot paper sold on eBay for $500. People have assaulted each other in supermarkets over toilet paper supply. It is the stuff of existential literature. Not even Camus took bad behaviour that far. It’s not the disease that is terrifying. It’s us. It’s what we do because of fear. This version of The Plague is even more compelling and bizarre than Camus’. He didn’t foresee the role of the media in nurturing the pandemic of fear. Fear is a contagion far more lethal and fast moving than any virus. The media is the incubator and vector for paranoia and hysteria. The viral force of panic has affected worldwide behaviour in a tidal wave of toilet paper buying. Our anarchic madness is more dangerous than a respiratory illness.
THE EAST POINTERS
BELLO IS GO
Alt-country juggernaut Andy Golledge’s shows are legendary in his Sydney hometown, so too are James Ellis and The Jealous Guys as one of Melbourne’s most loved country and honky tonk bands. Brothers in harmony, Coterie, are on their way to Bello from Perth, up-andcoming soul hip hop artist, Okenyo, is on her way from Sydney, where she has been making waves with her unique sound. Sure-fire festival favourites Bobby Alu, Tinpan Orange and soul legend, JoJo Smith, will join NSW Central Coast onesto-watch Little Quirks, and northern NSW’s, Tanuki. Now in its sixth year, Bello Winter Music is a family friendly whole-town festival. The festival will be taking a break next year (2021) while the main venue, the Bellingen Memorial Hall, undergoes renovations. Bello Winter Music, 9–12 July. For tickets and program info, go to bellowintermusic.com.
There are many terms people use when describing James Blundell: icon, legend, controversial, rebel. The truth is James Blundell is all of these things. He radiates an enthusiasm for everything that life has to offer, and it’s this authenticity that makes him one of the most instantly likable and recognisable artists in Australian music.
As of 8 March, according to WHO statistics, there have been 105 586 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 3, 584 deaths worldwide.
Catch him live in concert at Mullum Ex-Services on Saturday 21 March, at 8pm.
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The East Pointers play The Hotel Great Northern on Thursday, 19 March, 8pm. Tickets www.eastpointers.ca/shows.
Well known to Bruns audiences for his larger-than-life performances at Cheeky Cabaret and his internationally acclaimed Cave-Waits-Cohen show, Mikelangelo drops the persona to perform as himself, Michael Simic. His music and lyrics draw on the evocative beauties of love and nature and can melt even the hardest heart. Simic is a prolific and impressive songwriter, and an arresting performer with a powerful voice and presence.
With a brand new album, Yours To Break, in hand, The East Pointers are redefining the genre and hooking the next generation of folk fans with Billboard-worthy pop hooks, deep acoustic grooves, trancelike Celtic trad, and rich, three-part harmonies. Amassing over two million streams to date, and earning a whopping six East Coast Music Award nominations, Yours To Break was produced by multiGrammy Award-winning songwriter and renowned producer, Gordie Sampson, and is musically complex, technically brilliant, and transcends the borders of traditional folk music. If the sold-out shows during their extensive international tour are anything to go by, the third East Pointers album, Yours To Break, will be their most important and successful yet.
THE MUSIC OF JAMES BLUNDELL
Malaria kills one million children annually. One-anda-half million people died from Tuberculosis last year. There are still close to one million people dying each year from AIDS related illnesses. But that’s in developing countries. Their deaths don’t raise panic among the general population of wealthy countries. Because ‘they’ are not ‘us.’
In 2018, in the US, 80 000 people died from the flu. You’re much more likely to catch the flu than this coronavirus – so why are people so paranoid? There’s every reason to take COVID-19 seriously – but panic buying? Mask wearing? Even when you’re not immune-compromised... it’s nuts. The media have a lot to answer for. I wonder who the PR Company is for COVID-19 ? Could they please do the campaign for the Climate Crisis and Domestic Violence? With that kind of affect on human response – we’d have two of the world’s most serious issues sorted in a week.
Earning rave reviews for their east coast shows over the new year period, including Woodford Folk Festival, where Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins, danced and performed AUSLAN for a number one charting single, Wintergreen, The East Pointers are excited to continue their run around the country.
This year at Bello there’s something for everyone – there’s Alabama dirt road soul from Kirsty Lee (USA), foot stomping hoedowns from Albi and The Wolves (NZ), deep afro-funk grooves from Cool Out Sun, and jazz-funk from Melbourne six-piece Sunnyside.
Many say Blundell single-handedly shaped modern Australian country music fusing elements from John Mellencamp, The Band, and The Angels with the storytelling ethos of Slim Dusty and his own lyrical insight, sharp wit and empathy for the average working man. This, combined with his handsome good looks and country charm ensured there was no stopping his success across all demographics. James Blundell is one of only a handful of today’s country artists who live the authentic life of a country singer, managing his family-owned property in Stanthorpe QLD.
I’m intrigued by the story of COVID-19. I understand its potential, and that it is a highly infectious disease with a mortality rate of about 0.2%. To date, it seems only to have killed older and immune compromised people – people who probably would have been just as susceptible to the flu.
Award-winning Canadian trio, The East Pointers, transcend the barriers of traditional folk, with music that is complex, technically brilliant and heralding the next generation of folk fans with a modern, global kaleidoscope of sounds.
Michael Simic (aka Mikelangelo) ended six years of touring Cave-WaitsCohen at the Picture House, and now debuts his new show.
Acclaimed as the frontman of his group of 16 years, The Black Sea Gentlemen, and vocalist in the Olivier Award-winning production La Clique, Mikelangelo has toured the world, from the Sydney Opera House to London’s West End, seducing audiences and critics with his original songs and his effortless showmanship. Mikelangelo is also the winner of the Edinburgh Spirit Of The Fringe and Brighton Fringe Star of the Festival awards. Join Michael as he shares stories and songs about his transformation from world touring artist to a dad singing lullabies to his baby. You’ll be laughing and crying as he traverses the sublime, the ridiculous, and everything in between. Accompanied by Melbourne legend Dave Evans on accordion and piano. Brunswick Picture House, Sunday 22 March, 5pm. Tickets $25–30 plus bf from brunswickpicturehouse.com
THIS WEEK
OPEN MIC NIGHT W/ HARRY NICHOLS
PHIL & TILLEY BEN WALSH & SWANNY
HAPPY
HOUR
4-6PM
HAPPY
HOUR
4-6PM
HAPPY
HOUR
4-6PM
HARRY NICHOLS FREE BREWERY BLUES EXPERIENCE TOUR 2PM
COMPLETE
DEATH RATTLE TOUR
FREE
BREWERY TOUR 2PM
FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT WWW.BYRONBAYBREWERY.COM.AU lĂŤĹżÄˆÄ˛ ǨǨǽ NJǧNJǧ The Byron Shire Echo 27