Review: Pepa Wolfe
There was a great turnout at the Globe theatre on Saturday night, with Brisbane music fans coming together to support fundraising efforts to save the heritage of the Regent Theatre in the city.

While many may have come to see the headline act Wolfmother, the crowd was happy and buzzing all night, showing support for the variety of genres on display. And the outstanding Brissy line-up didn’t disappoint.

Swanky rockers Princess Rodeo were up first, and set the night off at a cracking pace. The dynamic three-piece and their charming blend of indie rock, played through a high energy set of catchy melodies and serious riffs. Their soon to be released single “Alternate Colours” makes you want to sing along, while the bassy groove of “Compelled to Crawl Under Your Thumb” and the heavier “Skeleton” pleased Wolfmother fans. They made an impressive start to the night, setting the tone for an evening of fun, dynamic, melodious rock, with soaring vocals and intricate guitars. If you didn’t get there in time to catch Princess Rodeo, be sure to check them out.

Styling blues trio The Medicine Show were up next, taking the crowd on a blues odyssey of sorts, beginning with mellow ballad and working their way through swampy blues and right into rock variations, with lashings of grit. Initially letting the music speak for itself, they gradually unleashed a cheeky sense of humour, keeping the sitting crowd entertained with interactive numbers. By the end of the set they’d swapped mellow for a swampy groove, ripping riffs and a gravelly scat that had everyone thumping in time. The set was tight, with a warm, vibrant sound and an addictive build that kept punters enthralled until the last note.

Blonde on Blonde had the benefit of a larger crowd, the 5 piece easily filling the stage. Their mix, heavy with guitars and bass and blended with droning vocals, is a mesmerising sound; the band moving through their indie rock set with an easy confidence. The song “Marlon Brando”, off of their EP Tease and dedicated tonight to the lovely Michelle, took them further into pop than the others so far, with people nodding along. A cool kind of sound, with an easy delivery, Blonde on Blonde gave another taste of what indie Brisbane has to offer.

Burlesque performer Miss Bertie Page kept audiences entertained between acts, filling the cosy foyer with belting vocals and some cheek. The dance hall sounds of her first song “If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It”, gave way to some 80s rock, as Miss Bertie got help from the audience, to the cheers of many. Meanwhile the bar was flowing and people were chilling to the nostalgic soundtrack of film theme songs. You’ve gotta love the Globe.

Wolfmother finally hit the stage to find a buzzing crowd. After a brief hello from front man Andrew Stockdale, they literally jumped into what he considers a mellow start with an epic rendition of “The Joker and The Thief”. The crowd just lapped it up. There was a lot of hair onstage and plenty of heads banging in time, as bassist/keys player Ian Peres was often airborne and just impressive centre stage, while Stockdale covered much of the space, playing into the front row. They whipped through favourites “Woman” and “Mind’s Eye”, with Stockdale then abandoning his guitar for a tribute to his memories of the Regent (watching The Doors Movie at age 13) and The Lizard King himself, with a cover of “Riders on the Storm”.

The rocking four-piece really present a big stage performance, with solid drums and wailing guitars. When Stockdale threw his hands in the air, a delighted crowd responded. They cranked it up for new single “New Moon Rising”, with the audience singing along in parts, and then sailed on through “Love Train” to a massive applause. Sound restrictions limited the boys to one song for the encore, but they still managed to cap the night with a thrashing set and a broken string. All in all, it was a great night out, with plenty of happy punters and an impressive selection of first-rate Brissy music on display. And in keeping with the cinematic theme, what better way to end the night than with free pop-corn.

Stage manager and MC, Nim, kept the crowd informed, the night running smoothly and the punters content. Rock for the Regent! badges were for sale at the merch stand, where many signed the petition in support of retaining the Regent Showcase Theatre. If you couldn’t make it to the event and would like to lend your support, you can add your name to the e-petition online at www.savetheregent.com

Review: Pepa Wolfe