The Bamboos Album Review

Dressed to impress in ruffle shirts, suit jackets, and a sheriffs badge, The Bamboos
came on stage to a bombardment of screams. With over ten years of performing
and tours behind them, the band sprang into The Gov to give one hell of a
performance, yet again, of their new The Rules of Attraction album.

A range of new and past material were played to fulfil both old and new fans
needs. Rats and I Don’t Wanna Stop were welcomed with warm and familiar arms,
while a funky and rhythmic rendition of Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off unexpectedly
hit the room, upping the ante and expectation of what was to come. Easy and Did I
Wake You were dreamy, powerful and finger clicking good while Kylie Auldist
wooed us with her mesmerising voice.

Luke Saunders (keys) brought out the keyboard enthusiast in all of us and his
natural talent gave an extra oomph to the night. Tim Rogers, being a bold addition
to the already packed band of eight, began each song with an on-the-spot jog to
warm up. Audience members promptly learnt to go along with whatever whacky
remark was said, including his promise to piggyback us home. A promise that was
sadly broken.

Both singers left the stage to make way for a faultless round of solos. Keith Bane
on the sax, Ross Irwin on the Baritone sax, Eugene Ball on the trumpet, Yuri
Pavlinov on the bass, Lance Ferguson on the guitar, and Grahame Pogson on the
drums made for an endlessly talented group of people. And when they weren’t
blowing, drumming or playing, they were clapping. As we welcomed Auldist back,
we also welcomed a gentle ambience as her and Ferguson embraced this gorgeous
paring. Her passionate and soulful voice rung through the whole room and silenced
an otherwise very vocal audience. Rogers returned in an eye-catching glittered
jacked to match his eclectic personality and unfathomably danced bigger than
before.

A two-song encore featured You Am I’s Heavy Heart and one of the bands most
invigorating tunes. Nothing could beat people’s expressions as Auldist and Rogers
hopped off stage to boogie to I Got Burned with their Adelaide fans. Every band
member had a cheeky grin to match those who were close enough to touch Roger’s
glitter jacket. The room had reached the highest level of crowd singing, hardest
level of dancing and maximum level of enjoyment. It was in this moment, that I
wished I could press a replay button.

After a ninety minute set, the band bid us goodbye with as much, if not more,
enthusiasm when they first began. The Bamboos played (and performed) with such
fearlessness and so organically that it opened a window into their personalities
which has influenced their music. This collaboration has resulted in an album and a
tour drenched in soul and liveliness and reiterates how powerfully music can effect one’s mood. It is safe to say that everyone left the gig with ringing ears and tired feet.