Chalk &

I was off to hear old mates playing jazz at Smiths, or at least upstairs in McGregor Hall but I noticed a fascinating touring band from Perth that was downstairs and starting an hour earlier. Why not make it a night? I was glad I did. This was a fascinating, perhaps odd and challenging outing. I only caught the first set and there was sadly a severely limited audience, but glad I did. What would you expect: “One of a kind Freak Opera Dothlife bring their National touring Theatrical Act of Original music from Western Australia. Celebrating their 66song debut album and feature film release.” The stage was a leafy cage and a few synth boxes. No drums. They sometimes play with cello, viola and the like. I chatted with Corey Marriot beforehand, synth and vocals, presumably author and composer. I never met or even saw the face of offsider Elsa Tseng who was the friendly beast in the cage through the show, if I got the story right, the developing love interest of Corey’s hairy and leaf ridden presumed caveman presence. I didn’t count tunes, but 66 is feasible, all short themes and lyrics played attacca (excuse my classicals) for an hour before I had to leave, all played with two boxes/synths and effects and samples and a mic. Would love to have investigated the gear but no opportunity. Would love to have listened more closely to lyrics to get the story. But the pop melodies and absurdist theatre were fascinating of themselves. Corey talked of the tour with art gallery spaces and the like: it fits. Desperate words and an unexpected, perhaps prehistoric, love opera. Touching and authentic and absurd in trammy Canberra. “Everyone’s wasted on love”. Intense and pained. Quite a fascinating outing, unexpected, and much enjoyed.

Corey Marriot (vocals, electronics) and Elsa Tseng were Dothlife on tour from Perth and performed at Smiths.