BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT, BLISS |
 |
) Mrs Peacock presents Rock 101 Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith at BATS, Wellington From 16 May 2007 to 19 May 2007 [1 hr] Reviewed by John Smythe, 17 May 2007 |
Popular favourites 'Mrs Peacock' - Jarrod Baker, Dave Smith, two mics, one guitar (well two, but one at a time played by Dave) and a digital music player - open Rock 101 with their excellent song to a late friend Tony, compiled I suspect with much recourse to a rhyming dictionary as the true nature of this 'best mates' relationship is revealed.
This exemplifies Lesson One: Subject Matter - a friend has died. Lesson Two covers How Not to Rock - what or who is not Rock? Answer: Jack Johnson, dispatched in a short sharp musical epitaph. The Songwriting lesson tells us how to be successful rather than good. The first genre lesson satirises Christian Rock, later Nu Metal is targeted, then the love song is inverted to an evol one.
Their beautiful low-key delivery combines with great musicality to ensure each lesson is entertaining. A Rock History lesson takes us through the 1950s, 60s and 70s (I'd argue, by the way, that Bill Haley and The Comets, not Elvis Presley, were the first to define the genre, with 'Rock Around the Clock'). Myths about performing under the influence are busted and genre cross-overs get a great run.
So how to you bring it all together? With emo rock, of course; with the plaintive refrain, "You don't understand my pain". Brilliant. And they have a strong enough fan base now to as for requests come encore time. We were treated to 'Newtown Love Song', involving a New World checkout girl. Bliss.
_______________________________
For more production details, click on the title above. Go to Home page to see other Reviews, recent Comments and Forum postings (under Chat Back), and News.
Nik Smythe
Comments
| roger hall | posted 17 May 2007, 12:01 PM / edited 17 May 2007, 12:00 AM |
| John Smythe is right, Rock Around the Clock was THE defining moment of rock and roll. It was used in the movie BLACKBOARD JUNGLE in 1955. In the UK youths (Teddy Boys especially) rioted during and after the film, which did the movie no harm at all. But the song electrified a whole generation and Rock and Roll was born... (Sounds a nice show, though.) Roger Hall | |
| Super Dooper | posted 17 May 2007, 01:37 PM / edited 17 May 2007, 03:48 PM |
| A decent look at what was the 'first rock and roll record' can be found, of course, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_rock_and_roll_record I go for 'Rocket 88', with 'That's All Right Mama' at number two. 'Rock Around the Clock' is such a tame, insipid little ditty I have trouble considering it a real rock and roll song at all, despite the use of that word in its title. It may have raised some pulses at the time, but so did 'In the Mood' before it and 'Fernando' after it. Real rock and roll, for my money, is shit like 'C'Mon Everybody' and 'Be-Bop-A-Lula'. And remeber what Mos Def says: "You may dig on the Rolling Stones/ But they ain't come up with that style on they own." | |
| Jarrod Baker | posted 17 May 2007, 03:56 PM |
| It's well known that Bill Haley was a filthy liar. Ask anyone. | |
| Charlotte Larsen | posted 17 May 2007, 05:36 PM |
| Everyone knows John Dowland invented rock and roll. Just ask Sting. | |
| martyn roberts | posted 17 May 2007, 09:57 PM |
| actually it was Bing Crosby | |
| Michele ACourt | posted 18 May 2007, 12:24 AM |
| I heard Chris Bourke, who knows everything about music, say on Nat Rad that "Rock and Roll" is the African American euphemism for sex. So wouldn't it be likely that someone black started the musical genre and coined the phrase? | |
| Michele ACourt | posted 18 May 2007, 12:25 AM |
| Oh, plus Mrs Peacock rocks. And rolls. | |
| Jarrod Baker | posted 18 May 2007, 04:22 AM |
| It's interesting you say that - what we actually said on the night was that Elvis stole rock from the African Americans. I understand this is why he was subsequently incarcerated, inspiring Jailhouse Rock. And thank you. | |
| Michele ACourt | posted 18 May 2007, 11:09 AM |
| As I suspected - genius. But what the hell are you doing posting comments at 4.22am? That's very rock'n'roll. Get some sleep! | |
| nik smythe | posted 23 May 2007, 03:42 PM |
| I had always been told by my parents' generation and on teevee specials that Rock Around the Clock was the birth of rock'n roll in 1955. However the true academics have it that while rock around the clock was the first rock'n roll movie, the official first rock 'n roll single was That's Alright Mama, by the king almost a year before in 1954. | |
| Jake | posted 23 May 2007, 04:09 PM |
| Bloody academics! This isn't an issue where they have ANY authority! You had to BE there - and feel the world starting to rock with - Rock Around the Clock. That's the one that turned the sea change into a tidal wave (as we called them then!) | |
| Super Dooper | posted 23 May 2007, 04:37 PM |
| 'Rock Around the Clock' sucks. It sucks so very, very much. Listen to the damn thing. It's a clean, tidy, safe little shuffle. You can't fuck to it. It ain't rock and roll. Bill Haley is the boy your parents didn't bother warning you about. Gimme Little Richard's scream on 'Lucille', Gene Vinent's growl on 'Catman', Chuck Berry's proto-rap on 'Maybellene'! Anything but that preppy crooner Bill Haley. By the way, 'Rock 101' is a good show. | |
| Jake | posted 23 May 2007, 10:46 PM |
| Completely agree SooperDooper - but I'm afraid you could still feel the earthquake (personally Heartbreak Hotel did it for me) | |
| neil furby | posted 24 May 2007, 08:39 AM |
| Hey, people Rock and Roll is dead, move on, this a theatre review web site not a rock a billys reminiscence chit chat room. | |
| Super Dooper | posted 24 May 2007, 11:47 AM |
| 'Rock n roll is dead' is the most stupid thing anyone can say on the subject. And any way, theatre should be a bit rock n roll. It should be vital and exciting and crafted in such a way that the audience actually wants more when the curtain falls. Long live theatre. |