The Cat Empire

A vineyard may not be the most typical venue for a gig, but then again, The Cat Empire are not a typical band. Returning to Tasmania for the first time in 2006, the band picked an almost perfect day for it. A sunny Sunday afternoon, the Derwent River as the backdrop, and an enthusiastic crowd – how could you go wrong?

Overall the experience was unusually civilised. The picnic blankets were out in force and the brie was in abundance. The audience were a diverse crowd, ranging from dreadlocked hippies all the way up to the Mercedes drivers looking down on the mere mortals from the VIP balcony. For me it was almost like it was a family reunion, it being impossible to go more than 5 metres without seeing someone you know.

Moorilla are becoming experts at hosting these kind of concerts, and getting a couple of thousand people in and out went surprisingly smoothly (although there were a few of the usual drunken idiots trying to ruin it for anyone they could – geez guys, it’s a Sunday afternoon for crying out loud!!!). The punters were well catered for, with (unsurprisingly) Moorilla wines and “Moo Brew” the beverage of choice for most people (although as one person put it, “I just want a normal beer damn it!”). The entire package of the setting, the weather and the crowd really did mean that the overall vibe was relaxed and fun.

This of course is hardly surprising, given that being relaxed and having fun are things that The Cat Empire are all about. The support act was Tortured Soul, a three piece from Brooklyn who play the kind of music more commonly associated with DJs and clubbing than wine and cheese. Tight and focused, they unfortunately struggled to get the audience’s full attention. It would be interesting to catch them in a different environment and if dance music is your thing, check out their debut CD (www.torturedsoulmusic.com).

About 3pm, The Cat Empire hit the stage. When introducing the band, ABC radio presenter Tim Cox described them as “the best live band in Australia”, and straight away they set out to try and prove him right. They certainly are one of the hardest working bands in the country, and the last couple of years of solid touring have meant that their live shows just keep getting tighter and tighter. We were treated to a full 10 piece version of the band, with the core line up augmented by the Empire Horns and special guest for this tour, the “Crimson Warrior” Kumar Shome (sitar and guitars). This meant that the band were able to spend much of the show doing what they love doing – extended versions of their tunes, with long instrumental breaks and solos.

The set list covered songs from both their self-titled debut album and the follow up Two Shoes, as well songs from Cities, the project originally developed as part of the 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Highlights were Harry’s scat solo during “In My Pocket”, the extended percussion break in “How to Explain”, and the loooong guitar solo in “The Car Song” (I never expected to hear Van Halen-esque tapping at a Cat Empire show!).

However, despite the great vibe, the high energy, the great musicianship, I always seem to leave Cat Empire shows feeling like I’ve missed something. From a songwriting point of view that they haven’t managed to quite find the mark that songs like “Hello” and “Days Like These” from their debut album managed to hit. Although their more recent material is still strong, much of it (especially the Cities tunes) tends to feel unfinished. Of course, live this is not so much of an issue, where the extended jams actually add to the enjoyment for the audience. The only problem for me, was that it just seemed a bit casual. Perhaps it’s because of how frenetic and energetic they were the first time I saw them, perhaps it’s a reflection of a long year of touring for the band, perhaps it was the fact that the gig was a Sunday afternoon, but there were times when it seemed like the band hadn’t really moved out of third gear.

The Cat Empire get many accolades, and they (mostly) deserve them. For me, this was one of the most enjoyable gigs I’ve been to in a while. The weather was perfect, the setting was great, the band lived up to expectations and even managed to pull out a few surprises. Most importantly the crowd had fun, and as Felix said, that’s really what live music is all about.

Set List: Siente, Days Like These, Boogaloo, Sol Y Sempre, Cities, How to explain, In my pocket, Two Shoes, Song for Elias, The Car Song, Hello, The Chariot and Sly

Share this review on Facebook