In a one-off as a reprieve from writing and recording new material the three piece donned their suits for a night of entertainment. North is the perfect opener and I'm happy to report the Sunparlour Players continue to employ it in that capacity. Warning that his voice was likely to fail the lead singer soldiered on and frankly sounded just fine pulling out one great tune after another from their first (and only) two records. The new stuff must not be quite at a ready stage just yet as there weren't a whole lot I didn't recognize. Still the set-list definitely wasn't lacking with renditions of John Had a Bell and a Whistle, O Captain, Battle of '77 and of course, If the Creeks Don't Rise. Interspersed were percussion breakdowns and a tonne of instrument swaps - often mid song. For three guys, two sets and thirty instruments (okay bowed xylo, keys, guitars, multiple drumsets and all sorts of bells, accordion, clarinet, banjo, tambo, amongst many others) they really create a jovial, foot stomping time, every time. Tonight at the Dakota was no exception!
Mantler entertained as a lounge act should. It may have been the white suit over pink frills in part, but on top of that the set had that feel to it. From the simple song-title banter down to the keyboard driven, lyric based songs (with a healthy side of drums) the duo had a simple formula and stuck with it. Fresh and Fair played second last and was a tune I recognized and the promised (in dead pan) "epic" finale featured the lead rising from his seat to drop what really needs to be called a rap - an older, white gentleman's rap - to the delight of the Dakota patrons.
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