Walking up the steep stairs at Revolver in ‘beautiful’ Chapel Street was a challenge, particularly since I had my black knee high platform boots on. And it certainly did not help having three chocolate vodka Mudshakes dancing away in my system. But the heavenly souls of dance and all things chill have a saying. What is a Saturday night without some sort of beverage kicking goals in your system?
Back at the stairs, I realise I have my shortest skirt on. This could possibly mean two things. Either the bouncers downstairs know what I’ve had for breakfast, or I am being mysterious? Anyway.
At the top of the stairs, the main room is dim with red lampshades along the walls. People smile and lounge on vinyl chairs drinking long necks and lemon/lime bitters. On stage a young girl is rappin’ lyrical with a white beanie on and vibrant red hair. Her name is C.C. Martini and the crowd loves her. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with her songs, but she’s ‘da bomb’ on her lonesome with sample music in the background. She must eat, sleep and think rap because CCs style is natural and oozing attitude. This girl is going to go places in the near future. What a star!
After clapping my hands off, people fiddle with equipment on stage for the next gig. Glasses chink and the hum of voices get louder in the room – all in anticipation for Zephyr Timbre. My first experience with them was at the Livid Festival in October 2002. And I was not disappointed. The Brisbane based group uses sampled sounds with live bass, guitar and two not so very shy singers. However, this gig was going to be more intimate. It was only one room big!
After three songs, a barperson moves tables and chairs to make room for punters. And what I really like about Zephyr is they interact with the crowd and name the songs they perform. Not to mention the way they work the room. The more energetic they are, the more punters dance and so the ‘vibe’ cycle begins.
Bass and a six string tantalize the walls of Revolver. A light piano piece somehow reminds me of opening a bottle of champagne, with all the bubbles flowing over. The sexy growl of Manta Ray and rappin’ rhymes of Cameron James Brown make the set move too quickly. Songs like Rapid Fire, dedicated to “the crew I rap with, the Rapid Fire Breeders and to all the beat boys and fly girls in the club” see punters yell for more. One of their last songs is a soothing and funky tribute song to Van Morrison. By this stage I was beat. “It’s a marvelous night in the moonlight, to moondance…”
