Brought together by their shared passion for the great black American music of the mid-20th Century, Aaron West & the Custodians are comprised of some of Australia’s finest session musicians.
Drawing inspiration from the greatest artists in soul, rhythm & blues, jazz, gospel and funk, they are life-long students of music, embodying a level of dedication to their craft that sets them apart.
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The band have also have a swag of stories from their interactions with audience members. Aaron shares five stories from life on the road.
1. Many years ago a friend of mine was doing a gig in Cairns when an Aboriginal lady kept insisting that he sing 'Sweet Home Alabama'. He politely informed her that he had already performed that song, but she kept pestering him until he told her to “f**k off”. She responded by yelling at him: “Don’t swear at me you f**kin’ white c**t! I’m a lady!”
2. A friend of mine does a Stevie Wonder tribute show where he dresses like Stevie, pretends to be blind, and obviously sings Stevie Wonder songs. A few months ago I went to watch the gig when I saw a lady approach the stage with a piece of paper. Of course, Stevie informed the lady that he was blind and couldn’t read the request, so the lady passed the piece of paper to a band member. It turned out the lady was asking Stevie Wonder if he knew any Rod Stewart songs.
Aaron West & The Custodians3. After a gig at the Beach Hotel in Byron a few years ago, I was lugging my amp to the car when a beautiful, young lady came running up to me and put her hand on my shoulder and said “Oh my God, are you the DJ?”. I responded by saying “no, I’m in the band”, when she literally pushed me aside and yelled “Get out of my way then!”
4. A buddy of mine was playing in the backing band for an Elvis Presley show. A gentleman approached the stage, and Elvis being used to fans approaching him with gifts and well-wishes leaned down at the front of the stage when the man bellowed at him: “You’re shit!” Elvis promptly forgot the words to 'Love Me Tender' and everything went downhill from there.
5. A few Christmas ago I was doing a roving gig with two other musicians in a shopping mall playing Christmas carols. An old lady approached the band, and I assumed she might have had a request. Instead she screamed in the bass players face: “You’re worse than Powderfinger!”
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Aaron West & the Custodians play the Brisbane Jazz Club 21 April.
