Gig Review: Greaser
Words by Tracey Moyle – ‘The Music Maven’ – Music Maven Events | Original article here.
Jollee – quick phone snap by Tracey Moyle – Edited by Elizabeth Sharpe – Ummagummamumma – Live Music Photography
Venturing deep into the secluded Greaser basement bar, local rockers Jollee launch their much-awaited sophomore single Gypsy Man with some rocking support from Passion Cactus and alternative fun guys GUS.
Jollee is bringing rock back into the hearts and souls of music lovers. Praise the Gods of music. Although they are relatively new on the music scene the word is spreading and the following is growing. They open their set to a roar of adoration with I Want You. Opening with a killer riff with smooth and bluesy, Brookes’ expression vocally and visually brings the whole thing alive. You can just tell the band love being on stage as much as the gathered fans love being there. The stage seems too small for such a big sound. Baidon looks cramped behind the drum kit in the corner but still belts out the rhythm perfectly.
White Woman Wasted, the bands first single, is up next. This popular debut for Jollee had punters singing along, oozing sultry blues vocals, as Brooke doesn’t just sing, she tells the story of this ‘White Woman Wasted’ – 'Here’s to the woman at the bar and all the pretty boys get the white woman wasted. Keep the secrets at the bar.'
An inflatable unicorn swim ring is making its rounds around the room and, as if there was any more space left in the corner behind the kit, it makes its way to drummer Baidon’s waist for the next song Clubby. The song has a brilliantly classic rock intro with drums carrying the pounding rhythm with support from Marcus on the bass. Brooke works the crowd, the band love the fans and vice versa.The room is hyped as the next track Doorman tells yet another story and shows off the lead songstress’ vocal range. The band come together brilliantly in this dynamic song with perfectly placed leads riding over it with force.
Night Owl comes next, a song the band wrote together. Brooke loses the guitar giving her all in the vocals. Her range is perfect for rock with the power to push out the song with force but hit all the right highs giving the song body and soul. The band are, as always having fun on stage and the energy from the stage is pouring over into the crowd.
I Got Love has Brooke playing on her own with a classic blues cadence bringing a sultry mood to the set she wows everyone her natural stage presence. Her vocals demand the spotlight and the fans are happy to have her in it with cheers intermittently coming from the adoring crowd.
The new single is next and Gypsy Man is unleashed to the waiting crowd. Having the room clap the intro in, Brookes’ vocals ring out “ I gave my heart to a Gypsy Man, yeah yeah”….., guitar riffs carry it forward, drums belt out like a pulse, it all comes together in a blues-rock number capable of carrying this band to a wider audience. Gypsy Man is a bluesy rock track that oozes cool vocally and musically with a sound so contagious you can’t listen to it without belting out the beat yourself.
Up next, Middle World sees Brooke resting the guitar again. With hands-free, her stage presence is amazing. This track has a classic 70’s rock vibe. Brooke grabs the guitar rejoining halfway through. Luke’s solo toward the end is a standout.
Cowboy finishes the set with again, no guitar for the lead lady. Her stage presence is simply amazing. The number has a Western feel producing an almost Rawhide-Esque undertone mixed with Brookes’ vocal urgency giving it a unique sound all of its own, showing off the bands versatility. This is a big finish with all the energy going into the song’s climax.
The band finish on a high, the crowd are happy, the night is a success. As the night carried forward at Greaser Bar in a hidden alley in the music hub of Brisbane, the crowd grew and grew and grew. People came out to see the bands tonight because, simply, they rock. They all have a different sound, they are all unique but their core sound is set solid in the roots and influences of rock music. Real rock music. Jollee has a brilliantly blues-based rock sound that almost any classic band has as its heart. The Rolling Stones, Cream, AC/DC even Metallica (that Enter Sandman riff) is all blues heart and soul. Rock is building in this country and I could name 50 new bands right now that are out there waiting to her heard. But that’s another article another time.
Get out and support our local artists. We do not want bands like this, beaming with talent, to disappear.