Live Review: The Hot 8 Brass Band, The Hot Potato Band

We were promised two "Hot" brass bands and they well and truly set the OAF on fire on a usually mundane Wednesday night with their bombastic sound.

An 11-piece from Sydney's southern suburbs, The Hot Potato Band, squeezed onto the stage, unless they were spilling into the crowd with their energetic and entertaining set. Double baritone saxes, a sousaphone and three percussionists provided a strong backline as tenor saxophones, trumpet and a curious electronic wind instrument known as an EWI held down the melody.

Vocalist Dylan Wright, a talented solo singer/songwriter in his own right, provided a rich, warm tone to counter the bright horns. Original tracks Sail Away and Stolen were interspersed with inspired covers. Synchronised stage moves and a sense of fun kept us smiling as they encouraged participation and finished with the very suitably titled This Is How It Should Be.

The Hot 8 Brass Band's history is a torrid one. Three members of the band met violent gun deaths in their hometown of New Orleans, including one incident that cancelled a previous Sydney show. But, instead of mourning, this band remember their lives with a celebratory party and marching-band vibe — representative of Louisiana.

"We're gonna have some fun in this biz tonight!" Trumpeter/singer Alvarez "Big Al" Huntley declared and he wasn't wrong. It was a constant avalanche of sound from the stage; whether a smooth cover of Sexual Healing, traditional gospel or upbeat translations of Papa Was A Rolling Stone, the band's boundless energy never faltered. Their original tracks were just as huge and the whole crowd became a sweaty, throbbing mess.

For nearly two hours, band leader/sousaphone player Bennie Pete kept the bass powering on. It was a Herculean effort on such a huge instrument and it set the standard for a band that, although occasionally on the sloppy side, are experts in their craft. We left the OAF having been cooked sufficiently. Hot indeed.