The Crash Test Dummies first ever NZ performance at the Powerstation proved positive, you can be well known for one song but have a wealth of great tunes in the can. Makes you think…
Co-vocalist Ellen Reid announced they were enjoying themselves and amazed at the wide generation spectrum of the audience. The band was in a window of nostalgia after a long layoff.
First up the band performed Ghosts That Haunt Me. To fix a ghost in the machine Brad Roberts sauntered on, then sauntered sideways to talk to the monitor man.
The band played on. A perfectly sculpted sound. When Brad got back to the mic and opened his mouth, his huge voice made the gigantic sound larger than life.
The front of house mix was sonically spectacular. On the second line of the song the mixing engineer pushed up the vocal reverb and the sound climbed higher yet again.
Founder Brad Roberts is centred and centrifugal. His baritone voice the obvious anchor. I always rant and rave about the rarity of tenor singers, but Brad’s style is even rarer, and as hard, especially if the monitors aren’t right.
He has his own sound, with dabs of Johnny Cash and fellow Canadian, Leonard Cohen. He is often physically centred in a Zen-like stance at the mic stand. It’s a smart move. Early in the millennium he developed a back problem. He is pulling off a coup in touring the world.
During the first song the keyboard session player Leith Flemming Smith, ripped a highly manic solo. On the money, and not what I expected. I was squinting and confused though, I thought it was John Belushi.
The sound of the music is an amalgam and criss cross of styles that butter nicely together. Baroque, orchestral, Country, Folk, Funk…. you name it.
x The music seems to tick most often in mid-tempo, possibly the most suited range for a bass voice. Great tunes all the way.
They delivered all the cornerstone tracks like God Shuffled His Feet, along with starters and deep cuts like Superman Song, How Does a Duck Know, and I Think I’ll Disappear Now.
Amidst this, the quality of the lyrics is apparent, and Brad shows that he also shines as a rhythm guitarist and angular lead player. Every now and then he grabs the whammy bar on his sunburst strat, and squeezes and warbles notes in a Gilmore-like fashion.
The band pulled a couple of covers. Their version of XTC’s The Ballad of Peter Pumpkin Head made headway for them in the USA when placed in the blockbuster movie Dumb and Dumber. The band’s name synchronistic with the title of a breakthrough film for another fellow Canadian, Jim Carrey.
The other cover of The Replacements Androgynous made perfect sense. Though the Dummies honed their craft in the pub and club scene of Winnipeg, Manitoba, I’m sure they cruised seven hours South to 7th Street in Minneapolis and played The Entry, the home of the punky Replacements.
The band behind Brad is as good as you can be. Mitch Dorge on drums is definitively dynamic. He solidly holds things down with simplicity. Brad’s brother Dan Roberts locks in with him on bass. Probably adds a touch of sanity to the travels having your brother on the road with you. Unless you are the Kinks or Oasis.
Ellen Reid, the official keys player, BV singer, accordion player and perc shaker works the stage with movement and dance. Leith joins her on occasion.
I was confused though. I thought he was Michael Anthony. I figured it out though, during the home straight Leith busted out a portable keys solo on He Likes to Feel It. He certainly does. He exploded at centre stage. Head banging, rocking it hard. Feeling it. He’s Jack Black.
Guitarist Stuart Cameron had great tones, expressive lead ability, and when needed, fantastic rhythmic energy. He also worked the crowd in a healthy traditional fashion.
A great show. The sound, and nicely crafted static lighting scenes, were top tier.
Crash Test Dummies brought things to the checkout counter with their solid hit. While walking back to the car, it makes you think, Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm.
John Kempt
Photography by Marc Peretic
Crash Test Dummies
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