Live Review: Tuba Skinny

Here’s a little advice to begin; make sure you’re wearing your dancing shoes when you go to see Tuba Skinny on their national tour this spring.

The eight-piece New Orleans Jazz outfit return to our shores following their sold-out 2013 tour. With them, they bring two brand spankin’ new albums, Pyramid Strut and Owl Call Blues, in which they cross multiple musical genres and dabble in calypso.

Don’t be disheartened if they don’t play many of their classic tracks this tour, though; their newest material is jam-packed with individual solos, including the crowd favourite washboard, played by the gifted Robin Rapuzzi, to a chorus of whoops. There is also the opportunity to request a personal favourite, as one local did in Adelaide, with the band belting I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water to a very pleased audience.

They’re a supremely talented group of musicians who are clearly in tune with one another. Guitarist Gregory Sherman’s raspy vocals complement lead lady Erika Lewis’ like apple complements cinnamon; mix into that soon-to-be-married John Doyle’s blistering clarinet skills, Shaye Cohn’s classy cornet, Barnabus Jones’ sublime trombone slides and Todd Burdick’s anchoring tuba and you’re left with a recipe for the perfect ensemble.

Their tour is without a musical support, but they will have choreographed swing dancers from Swingtime Australia performing at shows in each capital city. While it was a spectacle to be transported back in time by the swing dancers and the stunning music, it did create a bit of a barrier for the regular crowd. It wasn’t until Tuba Skinny’s second set that the crowd really got into it, mixing with the seasoned professionals. To top it off, banjo player Jason Lawrence took to the dance floor during the encore performance, showing off his impressive swing dancing moves.

By no means should you see Tuba Skinny and be worried about how you dance or how you might look. This tour is all about having fun and enjoying some quality New Orleans jazz.