Sydney Reviews

Until very recently, Weekend Warriors meant nothing to me. I'm still largely at a loss. Nevertheless, I've been led to understand it's the veritable pub Idol, transcontinentally observed, & revered, like, I dunno, Top Gear: a forum in which those teetering on being what might generally be considered too old to rock 'n' roll (or, at least, too old to launch a career), do just that. Or attempt to.

I say attempt to, 'cause the lineup at The Empire Hotel, Annandale, last night, was, largely damnable; not by feint praise, either, but condemnation. I honestly don't know where, for instance, some get the idea they can sing. Tuneless, apparently tone-deaf persons prevailed upon my shell-like ears, time and again.

It wasn't until the second-last band that those audio devices were privy to anything approximating singing. But then, despite some decent piano-playing, particularly, all was split asunder by a drummer who was, let's put it this way, not a 'time lord', no matter how anxious to impress, with overly busy fills.

In fact, it was only the final band (probably occupying the headline position due to it) that were, as a unit, a credible, and creditable, band; if their enthusiasm and dancing was any guide, the audience thought so too. Going by the horrendously throwback name, Heroes, they ventured a varied, ambitious set and were even called upon for an encore. While those preceding them slaughtered some of Australia's & the world's all-time greatest songs, Heroes (choke!) put across solid renditions of everything from Led Zeppelin's 'D'yer Mak'er', to Placebo's 'Every You, Every Me'. The latter wasn't the only brave choice: Thirsty Merc's '20 Good Reasons' was way too ambitious, from a vocal point-of-view. Still, you've got to admire their spunk. Choirboy's 'Run To Paradise' was thoroughly enjoyable, but I was glad Otis Redding's 'Dock Of The Bay' got the chop, as practically every cover I've ever heard is a travesty and, cumulatively, a crime against musicality.

Divinyls version of The Easybeats 'Make You Happy' went down a treat, and Diesel's 'Tip Of My Tongue' was dealt a very surprising amount of justice. The clock was wound back, to epic, nostalgic effect with The Turtles' 1960 classic, 'Happy Together', and cranked forward again, back to the future, with The Doors' seductive-in-a-manly way, 'Love Me Two Times'. The Stones immortal 'Paint It Black' had most of the dynamics one would hope for, and Dragon's ever-radiant, exuberant 'April Sun In Cuba' proved, probably, pick o' the bunch.

Bass and drums were tight and none too showy; rhythm guitar solid and reliable; lead, flashy, in the best possible way.

Let's hope Heroes returns next February, when under the, clearly, patient, persevering mentorship of Rose Tattoo's Dai Pritchard, Weekend Warriors is scheduled to; albeit with one or two members better-dressed: the astonishingly good lead guitarist, for example, looking, unhappily, like the twin of Barney, from The Simpsons. Let's hope, too, their stablemates raise the bar a little. Or a lot.


Weekend Warriors

Venue: The Empire Hotel, Annandale
Date: Nov 30
Visit: www.weekendwarriors.org.au