Schooled by the Jungle Kings!
Paul reckons we are Musical Tramps (he used a different word but I am trying to keep this a family show kids) as he was off playing with Mr Jim Finn and Finn at the Crowne Hotel and Theo kindly invited me to go join him at the Five Dock Club with his "other' band...hang on, I think we are his 'other' band...hmm...anyway, I was very graciously invited to join the Jungle Kings (Ahhhooooooaaaaaa Tarzan noise now) for a few sets at their gig tonight and was Schooled.
Yep, Charlie Cole, Mick Malouf, Michael Hawke and our very own Theo were swinging from the trees in Five Dock.
Rosie has been out to see them perform before and had many good reports, but this is the first time I have seen them and I must say I was impressed. here's a moment of Michael and Charlie during 'Golden Wedding' -- great clarinet!
Charlie was playing keyboards and trumpet simultaneously, Michael was playing Saxophone, Guitar, Mandolin, Clarinet, Flute and singing (although not simultaneosuly, now THAT would have been impressive). They were tight and riding a great vibe.
This posed something of a challenge for Little Old Me, with my one little tiny instrument (no sniggering from you dear reader), but I endeavoured to do my best. Thats the first time I have ever tried playing 'I Feel Good' (a La James Browne) on Harmonica and was surprised to find that A: its possible and B: I knew where the notes were. Scary stuff! They were very kind and let me pretend to be part of the Horn Section (at last!).
The Jungle Kings play around the traps a lot, check'em out at junglekings.com and on nights when we're not playing, you'll find Theo in the Drummers seat keeping it all together. Yep, watching Michael Hawke pump out the energy during 'Shout' and 'What I say' showed me what front men are supposed to be doing.
I think I just got schooled again!