Reviewed onThursday March 17
If you’ve heard of the seminal Brisbane punk band The Saints, or the jazzier sounding (by name and by nature) The Laughing Clowns, or even the satirically named band The Aints – or failing that, Jeremy Sims’ 2015 film Last Cab To Darwin (for which he composed the score) – then you’ve encountered Mr. Ed Kuepper. In his own words, “Every year’s an anniversary for me.”
Kuepper’s packed CV has reserved him a place among Australia’s most cherished singer-songwriters. He’s dynamic, a sensational guitarist and his music is affecting. His performance at Camelot Lounge was the first in a string of dates to promote his new album Lost Cities, released on his own label, True Tone Records. It was also very nearly the gig that wasn’t: “I dedicate this whole thing to my wife who’s just come out of hospital,” he said during the show. “I was going to cancel this whole tour, but I couldn’t do it.”
The room was brimming with hardcore fans, many of whom gave the impression of being musos themselves (or perhaps just RocKwiz’s core audience.) The performance itself was pared back: just Kuepper onstage with his guitar – and, oddly, an Argentinian film crew.
Highlights from the setlist included ‘Horse Under Water’; ‘Rue The Day’; ‘Messin’ With The Kid’ (a Saints-era track that came as a surprise); ‘Electrical Storm’ (when he announced this song someone yelped out, “Yewwww! Yes!”; ‘The Way I Made You Feel’; and ‘Free Passage To Mars’ (from the new album).
There was so much happening at this gig: the familial relationship between audience and musician – a room full of devotees who have been keenly following his career for years, if not decades – and the tales of broken bands, ex-collaborators and shitty Countdown experiences all simmered under the surface.
I’ve never seen an audience so intimately engaged with a performer; it was honestly amazing. Kuepper, you have my heart.
