"It's just dawned on me that we're playing in a museum," quipped Dave Graney from the stage of Brisbane's The Old Museum (5 August). "Is this some kind of cosmic trick on us?"
The Melbourne via Mt Gambier performer has spent his career mining the past. His lyrics often pay homage to the Beat Generation and Old Hollywood, and he'll never be seen in anything but a stylish vintage suit and fedora.Rather than becoming a museum piece himself, Dave is now a living legend in Australian music.
This year, Graney is revisiting his own past with a 30th anniversary celebration of his breakthrough album, 'Night Of The Wolverine'.
For the occasion, Dave and his longtime partner, drummer Clare Moore, have reunited with guitarist Rod Hayward and keyboardist Robin Casinader – the original Coral Snakes.
Along with bassist Stu Thomas (member of Dave's more recent bands, The Lurid Yellow Mist and MistLY), Dave Graney n The Coral Snakes performed that seminal album in full, sounding as fresh as it did in 1993.
Dave strutted right out of the gate to the smooth sounds of album opener 'You're Just Too Hip, Baby'. Decked out in a pinstripe suit and fedora cocked at the right angle on his forehead, his croon dripped thick honey.
Robin's fingers glided across his keys, followed by a wailing solo from Rob, and Dave prowled across the stage.
As stylish as Dave's threads are, just as impressive are the moves he can pull in them.
Throughout 'Mogambo' – his homage to Ava Gardner that he introduced with a bawdy anecdote involving her ex-husband, Frank Sinatra – he shadowboxed across the stage, striking a fist in the air with each splash of Moore's cymbal. His fists flattened, breaking into Elvis-inspired karate poses.
On 'You Need To Suffer', Dave and Rod were left alone onstage to deliver some blues. Dave spoke of Clare's distaste for the blues after playing with a cosmic blues band that ended in nudity. "That's the blues: getting your cock out on a windy day," he said to the crowd.
A short break and an outfit change later, the band returned to the stage to a chorus of wolf whistles and played a second set filled with hits and deep cuts.
Now dressed in a brown shirt with his chest on display, Dave kicked a leg in the air as the band launched into rocking 'A Million Dollars In A Red Velvet Suit'.
"We did a gig in the '90s where I took my shirt off," he later recalled. "It was the worst review of my life." (The man is amazing with his banter.)
The difference between the two sets were stark. The second was full of monster riffs and hard-hitting drums, from 'The Stars Baby, The Stars' to 'Rock N Roll Is Where I Hide'.
Meanwhile, the 'Night Of The Wolverine' set was much gentler, heavier on Robin's keys and Clare restraining her drumming with brushes or, as on 'Maggie Cassidy', just tambourine. However, the two sets highlighted just how versatile The Coral Snakes are as a band.
Returning once again for an encore, the crowd had trouble containing themselves when the bouncy riff of 'Feelin’ Kinda Sporty' blasted from Rod's amp. Some leapt from their seats to dance, and security rushed over to contain those bursts of excitement.
The rest were content to watch Dave strut across the stage once more – the liveliest museum exhibition in town.
