Live Review: Inaugural Victorian Music Crawl Part Three

Part Three: Bendigo - Echuca-Moama, 17 - 18 Feb

Friday

As we drive through Rochester, in transit from Bendigo to Echuca-Moama, it's noted that we should pay our respects to Australian rock and country blues singer-songwriter/guitarist Maurice Frawley (RIP), who grew up on the family farm in nearby Elmore, but returned to Rochester to care for his sick mother and also wound up teaching music part-time at Rochester Secondary College. On the bus, Benny Walker takes the mic and welcomes us to his hometown of Echuca-Moama, informing us he was the first-ever act to play at Riverboats Music Festival, which we're heading to after checking into our accommodation at Moama Waters on the other side of the border in NSW (not as far away from the festival site as this sounds). We're also told Walker is playing at the premiere of a floating restaurant in Echuca aboard the MV Mary Ann (9 Apr).

Once checked in, we get back on the bus to roll in to Riverboats Music Festival. En route, Dave Batty (Custom-Made Artist Representation) jests, "I wish it was better beer drinking weather!" (It's a barmy 27-degree evening). We spy a queuing punter in full Wild Strawberry costume — have we just relocated one of Pnau's long-lost character suits? Once inside, the festival is in full flight. Ducks waddle by the river or fly overhead (warning: that may not be spilt guacamole on your shirt) and kids' leapfrog competitions see amazing heights achieved using adults as springboards — it's all shades of wholesome family fun. Riverboats Festival MC Brian Nankervis is absolutely in his element up on stage and keeps the vibe alive during set changeovers. Not able to resist the Toasta Sandwich Pressery food truck, it's mac'n'cheese and pulled pork toasties all 'round.

We head down front for Cash Savage & The Last Drinks with some trepidation since this band's show at The Croxton underwhelmed (our hopes were high after their latest One Of Us set was on ridiculously high rotation in the lead-up). Kat Mear played fiddle for the inimitable Freya Josephine Hollick in Ballarat on the first night of our Victorian Music Crawl and now reappears in Echuca-Moama to accompany Savage and co. This scribe is aware she's definitely in the minority, but Savage still somehow falls short live. Savage is a brooding presence, sure; the energy simmers, but then we wait for her to detonate. And we wait. And wait. But the pace sustains with not enough ebb and flow. The explosion we ache for never happens. [*Ducks for cover, fully aware that pretty much all fellow bus-mates gush about this set*]        

An overheard comment in the Portaloos amuses: "It smells like raw hot dogs. I can't talk to you. I can't breathe."

Victorian Music Crawl groups splinter off and our earlier promise to work out a meeting place ahead of James Reyne's set don't pan out. Bravely dressed in an all-white outfit, but undeniably fit as fuck, Reyne looks annoyed to be standing on stage — ready to rock'n'roll — while Nankervis holds court at the front of the stage throwing a Frisbee to long-distance punters. "Are we ready?" Reyne says into the mic, glowering. Nankervis turns to give Reyne a look and then continues for a bit (he is MC of Riverboats Music Festival, after all). But before too long we're taken back to Surf Lifesaving Club blue light disco shenanigans via a selection of Australian Crawl songs, plus some from Reyne's solo output. Geez, that Beautiful People riff is catchy! How did that go unnoticed until right now? And Reyne's diction is shitloads better these days: "Beau-tifulpeople/They've got a Robert Palmer T-shirt in their travel ba-a-ag" — dated reference, much? Someone enlightens that Hammerhead is a '70s term for a heroin addict and suddenly everything falls into place. Then miraculously the majority of our bus-mates reconvene like homing pigeons just in time for The Boys Light Up.

Hoping for a new Facebook profile pic/selfie with Reyne, we rush towards the photography pit through which the artists must pass on their way to the green room. Reyne walks with purpose. "JAAAAAAMES!!" His eyeballs dart about nervously before Reyne suddenly transforms into Robert de Castella and sprints to safety, quick as a (white) flash. And we retreat back to the bus feeling more than a little Downhearted. 

Saturday

An earlier start than we'd anticipated (8am departure? Come on!) means there are some deflated faces over breakfast tables at Henry's Bridge Hotel. We're fed, caffeinated and watered then it's onto an actual paddle steamer where William Crighton (wearing Cash Savage merch) entertains us. He spent some time living in Echuca as a young'un and his autobiographical songs such as Riverina Kid and 2000 Clicks particularly resonate when experienced in this setting, floating past house boats and groups of paddle boarders in their togs. Crighton resembles an early settler with his pioneer beard and he's accompanied by a couple of guitarists plus his wife Jules on tamba/backing vocals. A takeout coffee spills and spreads along the floor until Jules, whose voice perfectly complements that of her husband, finds something to mop it up with. We're urged to whistle along during one song with Crighton encouraging, "That's the spirit!" Priest's opening lyrics are particularly fitting, "Under the bridge down by the river," and they should just hurry up and offer Crighton a paddle-steamer residency already! There are several in attendance who mention they saw Crighton at Queenscliff Music Festival — on The QMF Express — and admit they've purposely returned to see him here.

Once we've found our land legs, a local character/actor called Joel leads us on a tour of Echuca Port that concludes in the basement of a pub. Joel's thunder is momentarily stolen when Herald Sun's kaftan-wearing Mikey Cahill enters into a spontaneous dabbing contest with a young lad on a passing ye olde horse and carriage (and we're pretty sure the kid kept it up way outta sight). But still, we won't forget Joel in a hurry and would give anything to return for one of his Port After Dark ghost tours.

Lunch is hosted by Echuca-Moama Tourism and we're told the Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival, which is a free festival that takes place from 27 to 30 July in indoor venues all over town, came about when a group of locals got together on a "shithouse Sunday" and thought, "What are we gonna do about it?" Bus-mate Justin Rudge is the festival's new Music Coordinator for 2017 so we're pretty pumped for that one.

As the Melbourne-bound bus peels away from the curb, a few choose to stay on and continue their Riverboats Music Festival experience. We discover why Mia Dyson is gathering traction with her excellent, attentive backing musicians expertly accentuating her every nuance to bring the best out of each song. We won't miss a gig from her hereon in.

Soul diva Kylie Auldist shares the stage with Aaradhna and we're sure thankful for the introduction. Auldist always brings a wonderful infectious energy (even when concealing a post-op moon boot under her maxi dress). Google Aaradhna's Brown Girl (followed by Forever Love) immediately! You can thank us later.

With their impressive back catalogue including Tojo, Death Defying, Miss Free Love '69 and Like Wow-Wipeout, Hoodoo Gurus' headline slot was always gonna see us dusting off the dance moves and we discover how fun it is to help youngsters navigate a trail through into the front section and beyond in order to heighten their first-ever festival experiences.

After exiting the Riverboats Music Festival site, a post-show highlight occurs when the Inaugural Victorian Music Crawl stayers enter Harvest Hotel only to discover a duo called Magic Biscuit (aka Mark Peterson and Rachel Mcgriskin) busting out some live tunes. Of course, given that there are performers within our ranks, a spontaneous jam ensues when Music Victoria's own Nick Cooper, Dallas Frasca and Lauren O'Dwyer (Advisor - Office of Martin Foley MP) pick up tambas and take over mics (or whatever else is available). The random setlist includes Proud Mary (appropriately enough: "Rollin' on the river" - geddit?), U2's Desire and Alanis Morissette's You Oughta Know. This cultural exchange pretty much sums up the benefits of travelling to regional areas for gigs.

[Addendum: At the time of writing, Magic Biscuit have contacted Frasca via Facebook message to express their gratitude for a fabulous gig they will always remember and cherish.]