22/11/98

by Michael Travis

Jan Hellriegel truly excels in live performance - her albums, while brilliant, become imbued with an hitherto suppressed kineticism on the stage. Where the albums are the epitome of balance, her live sets are full of energy and sway between actress-like performance and good old fashioned show(wo)manship, with the scales tipped in favour of French cabaret.

This concert was a lovely example of Hellriegel’s power - and is best described in two words - groove and funk. Hellriegel moved between groovy cabaret with a nicely chilled atmosphere, and low-down funky rock out band tracks. With a powerful opening, Jan launched straight into her set with a mixture of old and new (nothing from "Sin" or Ears though). Playing with her on many numbers was her new backup band - Dave Gent ("The Exponents"), Anthony Ioasa (ex-"Grace") on piano, Brian Bell ("Dead Flowers"), and Barry Blacler (Percussion).

Sadly, attention began to wane into the second act (after the intermission), and Jan’s ballads were competing with some background conversation. She played two of her better known numbers, a reworked piano ballad of "Geraldine" and also "Westy Gals", but also some cabaret covers which were seemingly lost to the back of the audience. However, attention was again riveted when she brought the noise back on stage for an edited "Only One Option" ("this is my favourite song on Tremble…") and some powerful new songs. Fat band versions of "Misadventure", "Venus Is Dead", "Sentimental Fool", and an acoustic "V8" (this song has lyrics to watch out for, "to the beautiful girl who thinks she’s not…"). An encore won us "Filled Me Up" (which I affectionately call "The Melting of the Ice Queen") with a DAT backup.

A few surprise faces showed - Fiona MacDonald (of "Headless Chickens", "Strawpeople" and "Braindead: The Musical" (heh heh) fame) and car alarm gal. Fiona gave heaps from her seat in the crowd as usual, and Jan took it all with characteristic aplomb. Penance was paid when Jan hauled her onstage to perform one of their duet cabaret numbers from "Torched". Wayne Bell was also there, and played guitar on a couple of songs - no drums tonight however.

On the whole a superb performance with very few faults, and which she has plans to smooth out even further, anyway. Some tension between quiet and noisy moments that could be ironed out a little, and perhaps a bit weighty on the ballad end of things (but given that this is running on the heels, its little surprise she wants to use the songs she’s rehearsed extensively for that). No criticisms, but one recommendation - more band numbers and a bigger venue. This lady could easily get ‘em dancing and that’s what these songs deserve.