Live Review: CW Stoneking, Fraser A Gorman

It was late in the piece by the time Saturday night got underway, with punters suitably liquored up by the time any music started at a quarter to ten. A brimming courtyard and acclaimed pub food saw to it that there was plenty to keep those who were waiting occupied.

First on the bill, armed with a little acoustic and a harmonica was Melbournite Fraser A Gorman, who became fast friends with the crowd as he delivered unto them his cosmic country style of music. Between songs, Gorman would chat with those closer to the front, scoping out the attractions over here in the west. “Where’s a good place to get a kebab? I’ll go get a kebab with you!” Gorman exclaimed before launching into the next song; and so it went on, rallying between country-folk songs and plugging his tea towel merchandise.

With a greeting that slurred through the words “My friends! How do you do?” CW Stoneking and band launched into a cacophonous romp of gumbo blues, to which the crowd was all to ready to dance to. Also one to enjoy a bit of banter, Stoneking had many a tale to tell between songs, though a good deal of it was a little difficult to decipher. Introducing the first murder ballad he’d ever sung, he explained that it was about a dude that “had a good thing going, and for no reason decided to dig a hole out the back”. The content of Stoneking’s stories was diverse and far-reaching: From his time spent living with tribal pygmies, to working with witch doctors, it was like listening to a Jules Verne novel unfold.

As he sung Talkin’ Lion Blues, the whole bar joined in for some yodelling; it turned out to be a crowd favourite. Stoneking had a surprisingly minimalist selection of gear on hand for this particular show. He talked fondly of a banjo that he’d been playing during his time with the pygmies, but curiously no such instrument made an appearance; instead he favoured a sparkly gold Fender Jag and a resonator guitar. Yes indeed, ol’ Stoneking immediately formed a warm rapport with the Rosemount Hotel on Saturday.