Live Review: Madre Monte, Dilip'N The Davs, Mister & Sunbird

Swing-blues group Mister & Sunbird had the unfortunate task of amping up the Mojo’s Bar crowd on a humid Friday night.

The ensemble, replacing original support act Grace Barbe, wowed the audience with strong renditions of My Baby Must Be Blind and Seven Years Bad Luck. The group’s enjoyable rhythms and instrumental melodies got everyone tapping and nodding along, while lead singer David Lawrence’s Tom Waits-esque vocals elevated each poignant lyric. Despite breaking two guitar strings early on, the band’s hypnotic jazz-pop style pulled them through its rushed set. Stellar performances of Eggs For Breakfast and Small Package tided Mojo’s over.

Dilip ‘N The Davs have the appearance of a tough-as-nails rock group. However, once the five-piece started up, all preconceptions were obliterated. The group’s reggae-pop sound drew people towards the dance floor. The group, playing to a solid crowd, paid homage to Bob Marley and Fremantle with catchy renditions of hits including Nannup, Yokohama Girl and Reggae Gone. Lead singer Dilip Parekh’s energetic personality lured multiple patrons to his group’s jaunty funk sound. The group’s palpable family vibe, saucy instrumentals and raw charm elicited a raucous response from the bar’s steadily building crowd.

The crowd erupted the second Madre Monte hit the stage. The nine-piece ensemble, an electrifying mix of Australian and South American personalities, instantly won over their audience. As everyone hit the dance floor, the band dove straight into its scintillating, multicultural style, an unstoppable fusion of jazz, pop, reggae delivering several pacy and addictive dance floor anthems, band leaders Mauro Monte and Henry Pena likeable and enthusiastic stage presences. Despite major technical difficulties, the band’s opening instrumental removed any bad vibes, the group’s casual, summery glow shrugging off said problems before launching into their cheerful, blood-pumping set. The hands-in-the-air attitude delivered everything WA fans could’ve hoped for,  a tropical mix of new-EP tracks and fan favourites.

The opening few tracks showcased the band’s uncompromising range and versatility. Well-received renditions of Vicente and Subidero utilised the group’s core strengths. The horn section produced multiple goose-bump-inducing solos during several numbers. In addition, the thundering drum-line and jaunty percussive hooks continually surprised fans and newcomers alike. The band – flaunting its ‘50s-style Columbian aura – upped the ante with stirring and sexy performances of Caiman En Fuga and El Ritmo De La Revolucion. Their overall foundation-shaking effect earned them a memorable encore. Having sent salsa-induced shockwaves across the port city, Madre Monte have established themselves as one of Australia’s most promising young jazz-pop outfits. Aye, aye, aye! Tequila!