It was what sounded like a burp that turned the heads in the crowd towards the stage at Brisbane’s The Foundry (19 May).
Kid Congo Powers had just arrived, along with his band The Pink Monkey Birds. “This is all part of the incredible professionalism of garage rock,” he joked while adjusting his glittering cape.
The legendary American punk guitarist has featured in some amazing bands: The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds.
As a sideman, his guitar playing gave classic songs an added dose of chaos. But, as he displayed on the second-last stop of his Australian tour, Kid Congo was as mesmerising a frontman as those he’s served.
Local art punks The Stress Of Leisure are always a joy to see and their opening set was no different. Wearing a captain’s hat, Ian Powne yelped over his bandmates’ jerking rhythms. The band’s style lent itself brilliantly to a cover of R.E.M.’s ‘The One I Love’, turning the anthem into a hip shaking, post-punk banger.
Click here to read Kid Congo Powers' Top 5 Black and White noir-ish films.
Brisbane singer Ben Corbett of SixFtHick gave his all while leading his side-project Gentle Ben And His Shimmering Hands. He was an imposing figure, his tall frame flailing and stalking the stage.
When Ben wasn’t swinging his mic by its lead he was clutching it close to his mouth, going from a croon to a whimper to a deranged scream before collapsing to the floor.
With one hand adjusting his glittering cape and the other conjuring sci-fi noises on his Theremin, Kid Congo welcomed the crowd to “The Galactic Dracula Band”.
The crowd crammed close, pushing themselves against those in front. After another whirr on his Theremin, the band launched into the voodoo rhythm of ‘Spider Baby’, with Kid Congo cackling like Vincent Price throughout.
Blasting from behind Kid Congo were the fuzzed jams of The Pink Monkey Birds. The band went into overdrive on The Cramps’ classic ‘New Kind Of Kick’, the announcement of the title sending fans into raptures.
The crowd became dangerous when guitarist Mark Cisneros erupted into the song’s snotty riff, pushing and shoving each other while shouting lyrics.
Pointing his finger into the crowd, Kid Congo barked: “You must be some kind of Elvis from hell!” On the last syllable The Pink Monkey Birds unleashed a torrent of ramshackle punk, sending fans into frenzy upon recognising The Gun Club’s ‘For The Love Of Ivy’.
“I thought I heard you scream,” Kid Congo shouted, as he was immediately confronted with screams from the crowd. The crowd's screams became wilder with each repetition of that line.
Finally, Kid Congo let out the biggest scream, far overpowering his fans. It’s one of many moments that showed why the brilliant and professional Kid Congo Powers was always meant to be a frontman.
