It’s not often that I want to revisit a show I’ve previously reviewed. Incredibly rare in fact. It’s not because I don’t think that said show(s) are not worthy of my time, quite the contrary actually. It has more to do with the fact as to whether there has been growth and if I can be challenged in my review to bring something new and worthy to what the artists are delivering.
27 Club, an homage to some of rock musics most venerated names that departed the world by the tender age of 27, is not just worthy of a revisit but a write up about a show that knows it formula but somehow still manages to remain fresh. Release Creative, the brainchild behind the 27 Club, have ensured that this show is a must see staple at The Fringe and to be brutally honest, is one of the festivals best shows, if not THE best.
Returning to the stage for the shows multi award winning fourth year, at Gluttony’s The Fantail, are Sarah McLeod (Superjesus), Carla Lippis (Mondo Psycho), along with Kevin Mitchell (Jebediah, Bob Evans) and multi instrumentalist Dusty Lee Stephensen (Wanderers).
A beautiful addition to the show this year, was the opening act, US Soul & Blues singer Winston Howard. Seated on stage with only his guitar, Howard paid homage to Soul music and the Blues by way of his powerful, yet silken voice. An unexpected and very welcomed addition to a show that clearly understands its musicality.
The blueprint for this show is simple, yet effective and allows for each performer to shine a light on the legacy and music of artists like Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse. From the onset, It is abundantly clear that their commitment to honoring the music is not just performative, but something far more organic that appears to draw upon their own lived experiences as artists. Camaraderie and vulnerability between the four collide, giving way to something truly special that goes far beyond the music.
Whilst Mitchell and Stephensen undoubtedly excel in their respective genres, contributing significantly to the richness of the show, it is the women of 27 Club, McLeod and Lippis, who bring a level of artistry that takes it to the next level.
McLeod, with her commanding presence, delves into songs like Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz” with so much gusto that Joplin herself would be in awe of its delivery. Lippis, with her soulful voice and emotional quotient, brings a unique and transformative energy to the stage, as evidenced in her rousing performance of Nirvana’s “Lithium.” Collectively though, all four artists ensure that their work not only honors the legacies of those that make up the 27 Club but also serves as a testament to the enduring power of artistic collaboration and the profound impact it can have on the world of music, past and present.