Hat Fitz & Cara RobinsonAlthough far from full, The Basement was jumping on Saturday night thanks to husband and wife team, Hat Fitz & Cara. Fitz's live solo shows are the stuff of legends on the Australian blues scene, but he has clearly met his match in Irish vocalist and musician, Cara Robinson. Together, they deftly mix blues, rock, soul and Celtic influences, playing songs from across their two albums and covers of several blues greats, including Bessie Smith and Bo Carter.
Fitz is the quintessential bushy: long beard, King Gee shirt, hat with shark teeth in the band. His stories are warm and speak of Australia and family; particularly touching was his ode to his son, Penpal Daddy. But music now for Fitz is a team effort and some of the night's better numbers came when the pair worked off each other, such as in rollicking blues number, Power.
Both talented multi-instrumentalists, Fitz moved expertly from guitar to banjo and Robinson from drums, washboard, piccolo and flute – but really the most outstanding part of the set was Robinson's vocals. Strong, smoky and soulful, Robinson smashed every song out of the park, including a powerhouse performance of Blind Willie Johnson's Nobody's Fault But Mine.
But their greatest strength, Robinson's voice, might also be the cause of one of the set's weaknesses: Fitz seems a bit lost. It feels as though he has moved into more of a supporting role vocally, which made the set feel a little one-sided. This, however, was a small gripe in what was a joyous, humorous and very entertaining night.
