The readers also gather for the shows, so the House band may include wind (trumpet and sax/flute) or presumably strings, although I haven't seen the violins sitting in yet. And then the professionalism of the House band just rings true to my ears, sitting there with charts, perhaps messy and jotted over which is a common refrain, and the in-ear monitors and the rest for this professional cadre, in the big sounding space of the Princess Theatre, so different from the Piazza or public spaces of the dance bands and entertainments. And the effervescence of the singers, especially Chilean Maria out front of Sunset and often out front singing directly to the audience or the low-slung punky bass presence of Graeme from Greta's Secret as he accompanies the inevitable line dance to Nutbush City Limits. It's obvious how a cruise can bring out the most ridiculous and joyous of the audience, at least in Australia. Then there's the covers, not least Grace's Secret tribute show to the Beatles, but being of the Beatles era I did feel some lack of connection from the much younger band. That low-slung Mustang bass suggested Nirvana to me more than Paul and the songs didn't include my sentimental fave early Pauline ballads but maybe that's my problem! Of course, listening to pop music and seeing the joy and involvement that shares widely from our mobile, smiling Chilean singer Maria just had me musing over the value of entertainment, the effectiveness of simplicity and repetition, the frequent indulgence of improv, the communication inherent in melody and lyrics and the beauty of vocal harmony. And then a few latins tunes sung in original language followed by a rock track from Midnight Oil had me further musing over the natures of different cultures. But musing that is...
Sunset comprised Maria Mare (vocals), Pablo Gaete (drums), Robinson Ibaca (keys incl bass synth) and Edoardo Salzado (guitar). Grace's Secret comprised Jennifer Hall (vocals), Oliver Miles (guitar), Chip Dragan (keys), Peter Boldy (drums) and Graeme Heath (bass).
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