BY LYDIA MCCLELLAND, WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL CUTCOMMON YOUNG CRITICS’ MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
James Henry – a multi-talented composer, singer-songwriter, and sound designer – recently spoke to CutCommon while he was overseas, and arrived back in Australia only the day before his concert at the Peninsula Summer Music Festival.
The musician proved jetlag is only a minor setback for the experienced: his show was wonderfully refreshing. Here are five things I took away from James’ show at the Peninsula Summer Music Festival on January 6.
1. Music at a gorgeous outdoor location
Set up in an outdoor marquee at St John’s Church in Flinders with sun streaming inside, the pre-concert mood was decidedly warm and casual; a welcome contrast to many a classical music gig. Armed with drinks and camp chairs, members of the audience could choose their places in the grass, with many vantage points available. Twinkling fairy lights on the ground marked the barrier between chairs and stage.
2. Complex and thought-provoking lyrics
James effortlessly leapt between styles. From gentle mocking of pedestrians reluctant to cross empty roads at red traffic lights, he jumped to thought-provoking songs about the ironies of the Australian national anthem, complex discussions of Australia Day, and reflections on tokenism.
James sang some songs in Yuwaalaraay, the language of his grandmother’s country in northern New South Wales. He drew attention to local issues, including the draining of water in the rivers of the area.
3. Infectious energy
The band’s rhythm was compelling, meshing well with James’ trademark energy. The singer-songwriter’s voice was very soulful – James himself moved with the music. I could only spot one child in the crowd, which was a shame. But she was dancing. Some adults even hazarded a foot tap.
4. Unpredictable comedy
With his earnest manner, James was greatly successful at catching his audience off guard: after revealing on stage that he’d very recently been in Ethiopia, he offhandedly remarked: “It’s possible I have malaria.” The crowd laughed nervously as he explained he’d been bitten by a single mosquito abroad and forgotten one dosage of antimalarial medication! This brilliantly segued into a whimsical song entitled I Love Mosquitos. James’ melodic, high-pitched mosquito buzz was quite possibly one of the most amusing moments of the evening.
5. A gig that keeps you on your toes
Isn’t it exciting to be at a gig that keeps you guessing? It seemed James was also revelling in the unexpected, casually consulting his band on various aspects of the music before diving into a song. The end of the night saw James pull out a couple of sing-alongs to the delight of the audience. He also cajoled the sister of a band-member onto stage, with the assistance of the emboldened audience, to belt out Proud Mary.
James and his band’s performance across genres represented the evolving face of PSMF, and proved a treat for all music-lovers.
Lydia undertook one-on-one mentorship guided by CutCommon Deputy Editor Lucy Rash, on-location at the 2019 Peninsula Summer Music Festival and digitally outside the event.
Images supplied.
