LIVE REVIEW: JASON SINGH With Special Guest Brett Wood

Brett Wood is best know as the guitarist of Electric Mary and Pete Murray. Tonight he took to the stage and showcased a collection of solo songs. His three piece band delivered a fourty five minute set of originals that have a modern blues twist and honestly it was incredible to see Brett stretch into this territory.

I have seen Brett in his solo configuration before in a small bar probably eight months ago; a tiny venue in Brunswick where we were schooled by Brett and band in the rawest of forms.

Tonight was a next level experience seeing Brett in the spotlight on a big stage with production. Tonight he simply sent a loud and clear message that he is here and one to watch.

With mention of a four track live EP coming before the end of this run of shows with Jason Singh it’s exciting times for Wood. Personally I can’t wait.

As a vocalist Brett simply oozes soul, blues and just the right amount of grit to his story telling. His guitar work is just sublime. A hint of his influences come through his own style and flavour both in his playing and vocal styles. The band and rhythm section are tight, energetic and just give a platform to showcase Wood as a performer, player and vocalist. If I had to describe Woods stylistically it would be a cocktail of Ian Moss, Stevie Ray Vaughan with a splash of Hendrix magic and a whole lotta Wood.

Through the tapestry of songs were the tales and inspiration behind the songs. What became evident in the course of tonight’s set was Wood’s journey. The support and love he has for and from his peers. I learned something about Brett tonight and that was just how long he has been friends with Jason Singh. The mutual respect they have and bond in brotherhood they share and when they shared the stage together in Singh’s set it was evident. This is a theme that ran through tonight in Singh’s set. To say there was love in the room is an understatement but I will leave that for a moment.

Brett Wood Gallery

What a milestone twenty five years is. That’s a career that most dream of. Sure it’s had its peaks and valleys but it is also evident that Singh’s stamp on a pre millennium Australian musical landscape is worthy and justified. The last few years has seen a more flamboyant, vibrant Singh, tonight dressed in a red sleeveless suit the band in all white, grabbed every one in The Gershwin Room in a hold and demanded our attention as and the band whipped though no less than six bona fide Taxiride hits without taking pause. To coin a phrase what a ride.

For me Singh was the face and prominent voice in Taxiride, the harmonies were the sound of Taxiride. So to hear Singh have the right voices on board to deliver this catalogue of songs was a pure delight. That’s my technical critique anyway. Now the songs themselves just WOW. So many memories and so many lyrics just glowed from the audience. They were there for the songs and everyone equally sang their parts. I have to admit the crowd was largely female tonight and that also notes why some were there.

I have to say this version of Singh’s band is the best I have heard him with since the Taxiride line up. The harmonies were there and on point tonight. Seeing Wood up there and doing his thing was a treat and again a full testament to his friendship and bond with Singh; they were peas in a pod with an energy and fun nature I haven’t seen in quite some time.

Aside from the Taxiride catalogue Singh threw in a couple of songs from his Vale album and Heavens Greatest Hits show that simply exploded over the last couple of years. A track from his first solo album “Humannequin” and a cover which had the most amazing back story to it.

From the stage stories were shared of how he met fans, friends and faces in tonight’s crowd gave Singh a really beautiful human touch and connection. His stories and recognition of people along his journey were remarkable and in all honesty The Gershwin Room felt like it would burst with love at times. Tonight was really a celebration of a career that every musician dreams of.

In those early years Taxiride had more songs that became engrained in you than you realise. Tonight truly was proof of that. Every song a singalong guaranteed good time. As the set progressed Singh engaged with the crowd more and more. It was a really special night, a true celebration of friendships, places, times and most of all music.

Of course with youth and fame comes a mindset that can be arrogant, invincible and off putting and Singh recalls this in one of his stage stories where he speaks of going from working in a men’s fashion shop to not being able to shop in that same store in a very quick time frame. Fame changed Singh’s outlook and what was to be a simple Sunday dinner with the family turned into an intervention for how this changed him. His mother led that who intervention and as a result of a single sentence spoken to him, Singh was inspired to write ‘How I Got This Way’. Stories like this filled musical interludes and charmed us all.

The David Bowie medley from Heavens Greatest Hits went down an absolute treat as the band visited ten of Bowie career defining song which has everyone in fine voice. The technical delivery from the band is amazing.

Tonight’s encore was moved up in the set as Singh was provoked by an audience member to tell the funny story of how this song came to be played by the band. Singh on tour in Europe in 2000 was playing a festival and Bombfunk MC’s ‘Freestyler’ was everywhere on radio and unfortunately Taxiride weren’t so the band decided to add ‘Freestyler’ to their set. This particular day they were playing a festival tent when they decided to give the song a run through. Singh goes on to say that within moment of starting the song fifty thousand fans turned and raced towards the tent. Completely blown away by the response they also have their manager telling them to get off stage and on the bus immediately as Bombfunk Mc’s manager wanted to throw down with their manager. Bombfunk MC’s were headlining this festival and everyone thought it was them. To say checkout surroundings is an understatement.

Closing out tonight without any pomp and circumstance was ‘Creepin’ Up Slowly’. The song that really put Taxiride on the radar for me personally. Let’s face it the song doesn’t need to be built up it stands on its own. The change in direction on “Garage Mahal” from the “Imaginate” album resounded, that lush power pop goodness was exactly what the doctor ordered. Singh obviously laying his influence all over it. To this day “Garage Mahal” remains one of my favourite Australian albums. Through time “Imaginate” has propelled itself into a league of its own and certainly stands the test of time with me. Twenty five years on those songs that shaped the bands and Singh’s career are still relevant and fresh. Tonight they had a life of their own and again reminded us all of what a ride this past quarter of a century has been.

With a few shows still left on this run I recommend you check it out because it is a night you won’t forget anytime soon.