Mona Foma finished off their month-long Tasmanian summer festival with a free evening concert in the beautiful Cataract Gorge in Launceston. The natural rock pool, enhanced with a shallow man-made wading pool made for a natural amphitheatre for the music event. It’s a popular destination, with a walking trail along the Tamar River, a swimming hole and man-made pool, a swing bridge and chairlift.
Naturally TISM were headlining the concert, with Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, Mulga Bore Hard Rock, FFLORA x Grace Chia also performing. For the early risers, there was a gorgeous morning meditation by Launceston trio, Where Water Meets in the nearby Fairy Dell. With wandering peacocks and birdsong emanating from the surrounding tree ferns, it was a glorious way to start the day. With instruments such as flute, cello, violin as well as a locally made string instrument incorporating local eel skin from the Tamar River, the music was sublime.
Fast forward to mid-afternoon and FFLORA x Grace Chia were a strong opening act. The eight-piece collective from Hobart are described as having gritty, intoxicating hip-hop beats defined by uplifting harmonies and heavy grooves. Grace Chia is a rising hip-hop star, and the FFLORA collective are known for never playing the same set twice. The heaving driving songs included passion and support for Palestine.
Next up Mulga Bore Hard Rock hailing from Central Australia recently had the incredible opportunity to open for KISS on their Australian tour. Adorned in KISS makeup, the band produced some fun and powerful tunes. Having just completed a series of dates for their “Rockin’ the Red Earth” tour, they drew an enthusiastic crowd to the front of the stage.
Another band with energy to spare is Cash Savage and the Last Drinks. Cash Savage has been performing for the last decade and knows how to belt out a tune. Songs from the fifth studio album So This Is Love featured prominently. Themes of fragility run through the album – fragile mental health, a fragile economy, the fragility of the environment and our personal relationships, all on the brink of collapse. A powerful message for our times.
Whilst kids frolicked in the pool, those well prepared had bought a picnic dinner. The queue for the couple of food vans was massive and then the bar closed as it had run out of alcohol. All this was soon forgotten as people jostled for a space close to the stage in anticipation of TISM. Even a 6’ 6” guy claimed his rightful place on the front barrier. You can tell how popular a band is by how many t-shirts are spotted in the crowd, and ratio was high on this one.
As would be expected, the show started unconventionally, with several seats lined up on stage, for a group to listen to a “TISM Talk.” The crowd started chanting, “TISM are wankers” when suddenly their idols appeared, dressed in white overalls and balaclavas. They immediately launched into the diatribe “Old Skool TISM” to rapturous appreciation from the faithful, then following up with ” I’ll Ave Ya.” It wasn’t long before Ron Hitler Barassi and Les Miserables launched into the crowd, their outer garments torn from their bodies. . Crowd favorites were of course “Greg! The Stop Sign!!”, “Saturday Night Palsy” and “(He’ll Never Be An) Ol’ Man River” eliciting the biggest response, but the TISM audience know all the words to all the songs.
The Auslan interpreter, Michael, was having an incredibly fun time signing for the show. It was like watching a surging mass of humanity as the crowd and Humphrey teased and taunted the audience, writhing in amongst them. It’s an odd sort of love / hate relationship.
Finishing the hour-long set with “I Drive a Truck”, the band suddenly left the stage. Drawn back for an encore, “Defecate on My Face” was as chaotic as you’d expect. The giant plastic red letters T, I, S and M were thrown from the back of the stage into the crowd. Scuffles ensued; rumour has it that one man snapped up the I and the M, much to the chagrin of his wife. Punters gleefully showed off their spoils, parts of the bands clothing, flashing lights from their suits, cue cards or set lists.
Suddenly it was all over and the lines for the free bus back to town swelled. Those wanting some more action headed to the Dekoor dance party in the Method Plus Gym where the party kicked on. For the rest, it was another shambolic TISM show ticked off, from a long list.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Mona Foma is Mona’s summer festival of art and music. It has no physical home, but this year was held in nipaluna (Hobart) and Launceston.
More information can be found on their website.
The reviewer attended the festival as a guest of Mona.
