GIG: COCO ROSIE
PREVIEW BY AMELIA GROOM
This weekend experience the dreamy, otherworldly realm of Sierra Rose Casady and Bianca Leilani Casady, the sister duo Coco Rosie. With their densely textured, intricate sounds and relentlessly experimental layering of spliced vocals, minimal electronics, acapella, sampling, absurdity, mythology and amazing costumes, they will be conjuring fantasies and alternate realities as only they know how. Combining indie, folk, opera, gospel, blues, cabaret, pop, hip hop and electronic sounds, they create a distinct feel that is surreal, primal and eerie – childlike but streetwise, irreverent but transcendental. Sierra mainly plays guitar, piano and harp, and contributes vocals, while Bianco sings and manipulates electronic children’s toys and percussion instruments. Highly respected by their peers, Coco Rosie have performed alongside Devendra Banhart, TV on the Radio, Bright Eyes, Joanna Newsom and Vashti Bunyan. The sister duo have also played extensively alongside Antony and The Johnsons, and came to Australia with them early last year, playing to sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne. The girls reportedly didn’t get along when they were growing up. Sierra moved to Montmarte, Paris when she was 20, to pursue a career as an opera singer. Back home in the US Bianca was studying linguistics and sociology and pursuing her passion for visual arts and writing. A few years later Bianca showed up unannounced in Paris and the two of them spent nearly every waking hour of the next two months in Sierra’s tiny coldwater Montmarte apartment, recording music in the bathroom. The result was ‘La Maison De Mon Reve’, their sensational debut album, released in 2004. Next came ‘Noah’s Ark’, followed by their latest album, ‘The Adventures of Ghosthorse & Stillborn’. After sharing an apartment in Brooklyn they have recently moved back to Paris. Sierra has started a new band, Metallic Falcons, who are signed to Voodoo Eros Records, a label started by Bianca. They also recently opened a gallery and performance space in New York called the Voodoo Eros Museum of Nice Things. Playing this Saturday at the Factory Theatre, supported by Sydney songwriter Sui Zhen (and on Sunday at the Playground Weekender festival), these half-Cherokee sisters Casady will be seducing audiences with the magical universe that they’re renowned for.
Coco Rosie
Factory Theatre
105 Enmore Rd, Marickville
March 8
$38
Bookings: 9550 3666 or www.factorytheatre.com
