Matriarch advertised a free gig on FB and a club dinner appealed. In the end, we walked in to an Irish instrumental jam in the foyer then Guinness and a beef and Guinness pie (somewhat a pie, but a nice stew none-the-less) and a string of mates who happened to be there and the women doing grunge-punk with original compositions on feminist political themes and some covers, not least of Nirvana (Heart-shaped box) and Sex Pistols (Anarchy in the UK) and Iggy Pop (The passenger) and even William Blake. The feminist themes were clear and omnipresent and serious although openly inviting for blokes with some measure of sympathy: Tame the shrew, Father pick your daughter up, Dirty house (... don't wanna clean it), Nightswimming, Sux to be a girl (...sometimes). It's a slightly different band from my first hearing: two singers later. It's perhaps more punky now, more outgoing and inviting (than playing outside Parliament one afternoon to thousands of protesters. so maybe not surprising), fairly simply rhythms from drums and bass and some outspoken expansive, rocky wah guitar. And a solid voice3 with occasional harmonies. Nice to see from women of a certain age (as I hope it is for similar men!!). But fun, colourful, knowingly humourous and well lit. A show for a similar audience, on their feet or not; imbibing Guinness of not. The Irish Club has free gigs every Friday night and I'm already planning for some dub down the track.
Matriarch performed at the Canberra Irish Club. The band comprised Cath Cook (vocals), Glenda Harvey (guitar, vocals), Lee Grunwald (bass) and Leanne Thompson (drums).
