It’s been exciting to see Spookyland re-emerge in recent months, off the back of the band’s latest EP Rock and Roll Weakling. It feels appropriate to consider the EP something of a new start for a project that didn’t quite take off back in 2010, when it was essentially the solo effort of Marcus Gordon. Though his debut EP showed tremendous promise, it feels that with a three piece band behind him, strong management and some finely tuned material, all that promise is being realised.
The band are tight, the lyrics are strong – there are great guitar moments and tonnes of energy. It’s impressive to say the least – and though I always enjoyed what he was up to back in 2010 and 2011, that had nothing on what he’s doing now with the full band. What seemed to start as a more experimental, abstract musical project with its hand heavily in the blues and icons like Bob Dylan, has ended up becoming a more solidified, more traditional, quartet – without losing that original voice and taking on lot of soul. And I’m loving every minute of it.
In town for Laneway Festival, New Orleans artist Benjamin Booker had sold out the venue tonight, and the Newtown Social Club was totally rammed to see the emerging musician in action, accompanied by a bass guitarist and a drummer. He jumped right into the excellent “Always Waiting”, giving us a slow introduction before kicking into the energetic track. He wasted no time in pumping the energy up to eleven. “Chippewa” followed and then it was single “Violent Shiver” that kept us dancing.
Booker had one hell of a wail in “Happy Homes”, and he proved he and his band were just as ready and able to jump between heavy and fast tracks and his more soulful, slower numbers – just as he does on the record. The beautiful “Slow Coming” ensured the soulful moments came early, and with “I Thought I Heard You Screaming”, we enjoyed our bassist on the violin and the drummer on the mandolin.
My favourite track off of Booker’s self-titled debut album (which he played in its entirety), “Kids Never Growing Older”, followed and was an easy highlight of the night. The heavy drums in that track still have my heart moving at a different beat! The classic riffs of Otis Redding’s “Shout Bamalama” was a great moment of the set, and the main set ended with a ripping rendition of the album closer “By The Evening” (with more violin!) before the trio returned for a shirtless encore and the popular “Have You Seen My Son?” which was accompanied by one incredible jam, ending in a wall of noise and keeping our bodies vibrating long after we’d left the venue.
But I think my favourite moment of the whole night was when Booker forgot his track “Spoon Out My Eyeballs” (this was their first headline show in over two months, he was quick to point out), gave up on it, played “Old Hearts”, and then returned to smash it. The show only got better as it went on, and this was thanks to moments like this, where Booker interacted more with the crowd, as his amps gave his sound a less polished, more “skuzzy” quality. It created a strong connection between us and the band, and it only made it more enjoyable. And a very enjoyable night it was.
I for one can’t wait to see what Booker does next.
Setlist
Always Waiting
Chippewa
Violent Shiver
Happy Homes
Slow Coming
I Thought I Heard You Screaming
Kids Never Growing Older
Wicked Waters
Shout Bamalama (Otis Redding cover)
Spoon Out My Eyeballs (Attempt)
Old Hearts
Spoon Out My Eyeballs (Full Version)
By The Evening
—
Have You Seen My Son?
