Clairy Browne and The Bangin Rackettes
Could make a blind man stare | 2011-01-22 06:53 | Written By: by AIR
Late last year I was intrigued to hear Ronan Keating being interviewed as part of the "Conversation Hour" on ABC local radio along with Steph Hughes (formally presenter of Triple J's Home and Hosed but also drummer in Dick Diver and a melange of other lo-fi garage bands). I certainly don't find Ronan particularly interesting but I was anticipating a deliciously awkward conversation between the boy-band throwback and the fiercely independent Hughes.
Dissapointingly the chat was polite and rather unmemorable until Steph was asked to play some of her favourite music from 2010. First track she played was a band called Clairy Browne and the Bangin Rackettes and my jaw dropped. Stomping New Orleans party music, doowop, old time jazz, soul and gospel from an Australian band, authentic as hell.
There ain't a great YouTube video to post of Clairey Browne. There's the grainy live footage that comes up when you enter their 'bangin' name into the youtube search box but I ain't gonna post that, it certainlyt doesn't do them justice. Anyway, it's not like YouTube was around in the hedonistic New Orleans dance parties of the 40's and 50's was it?
Produced by Steve Schram (who clearly relishes the opportunity to work with raw, young and hip Australian acts with that kinda daggy aesthetic like The Eagle and The Worm, San Cisco, Little Red's first album ) Clairy Browne's self titled EP is rather freakin brilliant. Whether it's traditional ska or bonafide soul The Bangin Rackettes pull it off with astounding authenticity. In the tradition of CW Stonekong, they're making from Australian music rooted authentically in the American deep southern music tradition.
We ain't posting a video so you'll have to take out word for it or the website here.
