THE NAKED CITY – THE BRASS BAND BEHEMOTH!
We’ve said it before – but think of a brass band and you are more than likely to conjure images of a combo from the Salvation Army, a German oompah group or an ensemble of enthusiastic school kids all playing slightly out of tune. Well cast away all those wretched stereoptypes, because brass bands are suddenly very hip, particularly in the city of Sydney.
There’s a qualification of course. The brass bands we’re talking about are the youngish, very funky New Orleans inspired outfits like Cope Street Parade, Blue Tongue Brass Band, The Brassholes and The Glorious Sousaphonics. In New Orleans itself the tradition has been around for decades from the very early marching style brass ensembles through to modern day performers like the Dirty Dozen, Soul Rebels, Rebirth, Newbirth and the Stooges. Anybody who has watched the remarkable HBO series Treme will be familiar with the importance that brass bands have as part of the cultural fabric of New Orleans.
Here in Sydney we have long been used to noisy electric rock bands blowing the heads of punters in venues all over town. There is definitely something acoustically soothing and refreshingly organic about hearing a bunch of brass instruments, occasionally complimented by a low volume guitar. The Naked City recently caught the Glorious Sousaphonics at a midweek gig at Marrickville’s atmospheric small bar, Gasoline Pony, and spoke with one of the band’s founders Sam Golding.
On an unusually balmy late winter’s night in Sydney, you could have easily been forgiven for thinking you were seated in a bar on New Orleans Frenchman’s Street, or something even more down home in the Treme neighbourhood itself. Sam explained that “The original lineup formed out of a bunch of mates getting together to play some brass band music at the markets around Sydney. We’d all met at the Con where we were studying in the Jazz course in the late 90’s. We all played brass instruments or saxophones. The drums came a bit later (a welcome addition!) and then Charlie’s guitar arrived as the cherry on top.”
Judging from the eclectic nature of the sets that night, it’s easy to see that the Sousaphonics draw their influences from far and wide – Roland Kirk, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Charles Mingus, and Thelonious Monk, just a few of their favourites according to Sam.
“We listen to everything and bring it into the band,” he explained. “All of the great grooves – rich melodic material from anywhere. We love doowop, bluegrass, Balkan styles, and olde timey jazz. We seem to have an affinity for old Caribbean music too. Some of the old songs we play had fallen into the cracks – but we like to breathe some Gloriousness back into them.”
Sam went on to comment on the current popularity of brass bands in Sydney today: “The musicians who play in these bands are generally inclined to play exuberantly – they are playing loud instruments and are they often are playing outdoors in big celebrations. The bands naturally engage with people because they play parade music which was designed to move the feet and the soul. What’s not to like?”
After a number of years playing school concerts for Musica Viva and festival appearances, the ‘Sousas’ are now looking to more regular gigging around town. They have recently formed an association with the larger than life vocalist Nadya Golski, perhaps best known as the fiery singer with the 101 Candles Orkestra. As Sam recalls:
“I’ve been working with Nadya for many years. Nadya heard the Glorious Sousaphonics perform in my sister’s backyard and we started kicking around an idea to combine forces. The shared love of Balkan music and all things vocal has made it an easy coming together.”
Catch the Sousaphonics with Nadya Golski this coming Saturday in the Django Bar at Camelot for a musical adventure that knows no boundaries – from New Orleans street party jazz, though popular Russian melodies to operatic flavoured ska. Tickets & info: www.camelotlounge.com
