COMA not at all

I've mentioned COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide) on CJ before.  This time I managed to attend a gig.  Basically it's pretty much a fortnightly event on Mondays at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton (the Wheaty).  Two sets for two groups playing original music in various forms.  This night it was the Elder Music Lab out of the local con, the Elder Conservatorium, at Univ of Adelaide and a 4-peice band called the Harmful health.  The Elder Music Lab played four original pieces, 2 each from composers Rafael Raschella and Belle Smibert in various combinations of string quartet with additions of clarinet/bass clarinet and flute. Conductors were listed as Luke Dollman and Lloyd Van t’Hoff although I only noticed one conductor.  Works of Rafael were floaty, sometimes bleak, his string quartet no.1 and another called Grief (or Grieve?) with addition of that clarinet and flute pairing.  Works of Belle were interleaved as 2,4 on the program with titles When the weather turns cold, influenced by a book and played by a trio of violin, guitar, cello and Saoirse=Freedom in Irish Gaelic.  The first was mostly triplet feels, 6/8 or 12/8, and these works seemed more structured and melodic.  I didn't gets names of performers.  Then the band Harmful health.  The description mentioned influences of Latin and World music.  My feel was more prog rock with its solid rock grooves, truncated bar counts, polymeters, plenty of solos and nicely stated guitar melodies, some incessant sturdy and essential bass and some luscious malleable drums that so enhanced the grooves.  And loud.  They played ~4 tunes going perhaps over time.  The structures of feature lines or interim parts between melody and solos were all features.  Bassist Luke spoke for the band and maybe formed it.  His bass certainly defined grooves, often steady and unchanging, but sometimes letting loose with some delicious fills.  Again, I loved the elaborations of drums and nice guitar and key solos, although my rock ears yearned form more drive and distortion on the guitar at times.  Sam was similarly capable but perhaps more modern than that!  So, loud but well practised and nicely played.  Perhaps I was being indulgent in my interest in Luke's bass.  It looked an old PB.  We chatted later, and yes, it was a 1970 PB.  I'd had similar in my time in Adelaide (PB '72, sunburst, rosewood). I was interested in fret sizes and more, but frets had been changed out and the body had some changes over time, but the neck was gloriously aged and the body looked so too.  But I enjoyed the band.  As for COMA, what a wonderful event in a very cool boho pub with its own brews and a pizza cart outside and with an audience of all ages, families and younger tats, plenty of aged blokes to chat to and a range of styles to hear and a general inviting feel.  I can only recommend it highly.  COMA live recordings are on Bandcamp and YouTube.  And cheers to Grant and Tom who I shared a table and plenty of interests with.

The Elder Music Lab performed new works by Raffael Raschella and Belle Smibert (composers) with Luke Dollman and Lloyd Van t’Hoff (conductors).  The  Harmful Heath performed in a rockier style with Logan Watt (keys), Sam Cagney (guitar), Luke Lendrum (bass) and Gilli Atkinson (drums).  Both sets were at COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide) at the Wheatsheaf Hotel (the Wheaty).