Live Review: Tuba Skinny

The surrounds of the Arts Centre buzz with chatter as people queue eagerly for a pre-show tipple. There's a two-man band playing at the Spiegeltent sign, the singer's husky voice crooning while she alternates amongst drums, trumpet and a cute pink honky-tonk piano. Tipsy punters dance and laugh to their catchy tunes. Moments later, the crowd is summoned to enter the Spiegeltent, and women with red lipstick, white shirts and navy flared pants say, “Welcome to the Spiegeltent, this show is a sell-out!” Clearly Tuba Skinny has strong following in Australia.

Without a moment's delay, the seven-piece group from New Orleans known as Tuba Skinny appear on stage. They're a quirky looking bunch with finely groomed moustaches and slick hair. Their outfits fit perfectly with their style – ragtime, jazz and blues straight from an era past. Robin Rapuzzi steals the crowd's attention first with scratchy sounds and beats from his washboard that get bodies moving on the dancefloor.

But the group's real shining member is vocalist Erika Lewis. Her raspy tone and sultry growls fill the room with spine-chilling delight – hers is a rare sounding voice just perfect for the musical outfit. Their third song, Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul, is a wonderfully bluesy, soulful tune, and Lewis sultrily bangs the bass drum strapped to her chest. It's accompanied by the many other instruments – banjos, a tuba, trombone, trumpet and clarinet. By now, the crowd is warmed up and couples in the audience take the opportunity to show off their finely tuned dancing skills. A small circle forms and there are jumps, twirls and foot stomping – it's so good it's hard to look away.

Tuba Skinny chat to the audience – after four weeks here, they're sad to be leaving Australia. As they reel off the shows they've played here, including WOMADelaide and Port Fairy Folk Festival, excited punters cheer loudly from the crowd. They've won fans here. Lewis raises her glass to the crowd, calls out “tequila” and they play a fun, upbeat song that has everyone toe-tapping and dancing. They wind up with a song that features one of the band members bleating like a goat, the instruments all melding together joyfully. If you close your eyes and listen, you could be forgiven for thinking you've stepped back in time – Tuba Skinny have that nonchalant, effortless and authentic sound that simply takes you back.