While the rest of the country was fawning all over Harrison Craig, I was falling for one of The Voice’s more seasoned contestants. I was captivated every week by Mitchell Anderson, and when he was given the boot I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next. Thankfully those plans included a show at my favourite haunt, Lizotte’s Kincumber, last Friday night.
That voice that was so powerful on television gave me goosebumps in an intimate venue like Lizotte’s. The bio on the menu claimed that Mitchell is one of the best white soul singers, but I don’t think we need that qualifier. Few voices anywhere drip soul as much as his.
But there’s more to Mitchell than just a voice. He oozes positivity out of every pore. It’s just so much fun to see him perform. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as he treated us to a set that paid tribute to the world’s great soul and blues artists. He treated us to a few originals, but it was those covers that got the place on their feet. Many of them were featured on The Voice, but there were many more than didn’t make it on the show. I loved hearing him take on a few BB King and Joe Cocker numbers. That Voice cover of “Dear Prudence” though is still one of the best things I’ve ever heard.
One of the best things about a show like The Voice is that it gives a guy like Mitchell, and the talented musicians he’s played with for years, exposure. They certainly didn’t play second fiddle to their now famous frontman. Every one of them has the musical chops to play with the best in the Australian business. Together their sound was so tight. What a wonderful thing such experience is.
People like to find fault with shows like The Voice. However, after witnessing a concert like Mitchell’s, I’m really glad it exists to introduce me to artists of his calibre and help him attract the crowds he so richly deserves.
Image source: own photo
The result was honestly mixed. If it was simply Tony and the Sydney Symphonia musicians, I think the sound might have been more coherent. However, with those trademark electric guitars and keys still present, sometimes the sound got confused. Sometimes it seemed like the musicians were competing against one another, but in other places the marriage was perfect. It was certainly an interesting experiment, but not one that always worked.
Panama looks to provide a point of difference with Australian and international bands and sideshows of bebop, jazz, soulful dance music, and cabaret acts. The bill’s only just starting to take shape, but Tassie will welcome The Daptones’ Charles Bradley, local heroes Husky, and vintage rockers The Frowning Clouds. That eclectic early bill gives you a bit of an idea of the diversity this festival will celebrate.
Through my blog I listen to plenty of new music. I love to keep my finger on the pulse and I still get excited when I discover something new. But am I the only one who thinks that music just isn’t as good as it once was?
Does anyone else remember spending hours in record stores? My mum used to leave my in Brashs while she’d do the grocery shopping and I’d spend forever staring at the cassettes and CDs, planning my next purchase. Even better were the days when I’d catch the bus after school to Rices Bookshop and pour over their exhaustive range of vinyl. That’s where I picked up Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, Wham’s Make It Big, and Poison’s Open Up and Say … Ahh! I was thrilled to search the internet to find Rices is still there on Newcastle’s Hunter Street, and it’s still selling records. There’s even the odd website, like 
How does kicking back on Rottnest Island while you see some of the country’s best bands sound? It doesn’t need to be just a fantasy though, as Zaccaria Concerts & Touring and Hotel Rottnest have joined forces to launch Rotto Live. This Sunday session series will see some killer artists playing in this beautiful part of the country, starting with