Dub Pistols | Chevron Festival Gardens | ★ ★ ★ ½
There’s wasn’t a huge crowd for the Dub Pistols show at The Chevron Musical Gardens but those who did venture out to see the energetic ska band were treated to a performance that was loud, boisterous and a whole lot of fun.
British band Dub Pistols have been bubbling away in the background for twenty years now. The band which is the brainchild of leader ‘pistolero’ Barry Ashworth have released seven albums of material but never had a solid breakthrough hit in Australia. This was their first Australian show with the full band, having previously delivered DJ sets.
Their mix of ska, electonica, hip hop and tinges of psychedelica was a solid soundscape and a dedication to shameless partying was the clear theme of the bands hedonistic show.
Leader Barry Ashworth zipped across the stage from left to right, chugging a bottle of vodka, and later a few beers. Trumpeter ‘Young Dave’ Medland never stopped jumping up and down and dancing through out the show, while MC Seanie Tee handled the majority of the vocals – and a might impressive job he did. Bassist Andreas Jensen brought some serious funk sounds to the mix.
Ashworth welcomed the crowd, shouting out ‘Thank f*ck the sun’s gone down!’. While Seanie Tee asked the audience if they were alive, before launching in to one of there most recognisable tunes ‘Alive’.
Towards the end of the show the band launched into the chant “Oh No, Here we go again, I’m off my face another mucky weekend, one day I’m gonna have some kids and a wife, but until then I just wanna live my life.” The line from their drum and bass styled tune ‘Mucky Weekend’ summing up the party vibe of the band,
The band returned for a generous encore, one of the highlights of it was a rendition of The Special’s ‘Gangsters’.
A wild night, and on a school night too.
Tonight Kev Carmody is playing at the Chevron Festival Gardens, upcoming acts include Leftfield, The Necks and Hauschka
Graeme Watson
