The Main Event

Terms such as “hello!”, “naturally”, even “duh” come to mind when one thinks about whether or not there should be a musical celebration of the 40th anniversary of the release of The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main St, arguably one of the most important rock albums of all time. But then it takes someone to actually put the whole thing together. Enter national treasures James Young and his Cherry Bar. Add a line-up including The Wolfgramm Sisters, Ash Naylor, Spencer P Jones, Dave Larkin, Matt Sonic and Nick Barker, performing the classic 1972 double album in its entirety. Set ticket prices at a ridiculously low $20 and we're good to go. Barker, of Nick Barker & The Reptiles fame, says he didn't equivocate long about getting involved.

“It's a great idea. James and Cherry always do great things like this, for musicians it's like a bloody licence to kill. 'Oh Nick? Hi, it's James Young, look mate do you wanna have a few beers and then jump up with a great band and sing your four fave songs off Exile?' No brainer!”

Naturally, Inpress is journalistically bound to ask Barker which songs he'll be performing. The charismatic frontman is tight-lipped, but he does explain that he has some Stones-covering experience.

“Keep a bit of mystery, I reckon. I got my choices in early, though. I did have to fight Larko for one particular tune, but I got the four points. Exile isn't as easy as it may seem, singing-wise. I had the absolute privilege of doing exactly this thing in Sydney last year for Jack Daniels' birthday. You Am I got asked to play and came up with the idea of doing Exile with guests [Tex Perkins, Adalita and Nic Cester to name a few] and we had a blast. Christ, I got to sing with Venetta Fields.”

So, where does Barker think Exile sits in The Stones' body of work? Is it an album he's fond of for any specific reasons? And has it been a big influence for him? We probably shouldn't have asked…

“Exile is the start and finish point for a lot of rock musicians. It's the place you go back to when you get lost. When I'm chasing my tail, getting hung about new music, I always come back to The Stones, in particular Exile. It's like pretending you don't need glasses then putting on a pair. 'Ah, now I see!' It's impossible to gauge how much The Stones have influenced me really. Too much, maybe? My first album was Goats Head Soup, which I love to death, but a lot of 'purists' dismiss. So there is a band within a band if that makes any sense? Fuck, how can you dismiss Starfucker? But Exile has this uncanny thing where it's swirling and majestic at the same time as being rough and tumble. I've listened to it hundreds of times and still get something… you'll have to punch me to get me to shut up.”

Besides the songs Barker will be doing himself, it seems that there is one song in particular he's looking forward to seeing performed.

“I pity and bow down to anyone who has a crack at Let It Loose. My favourite track, weirdest arrangement ever.”

In closing, Barker warns punters to steer well clear of him on the night(s), unless, that is, said punters want a severe ear-bending on one of rock's greatest-ever acts. But when Inpress stops and thinks about it, a tutorial from Barker on Mick and the boys might turn out to be time well spent.

“Like I said, it's a 21st for rock musicians to get asked to do something like this and I'm betting you will get some very special performances. Miss it at your eternal disappointment. But for god's sake don't ask me anything about The Stones if you see me at the bar. You'll be stuck all bloody night.”