In the past ten years or so, RocKwiz has grown from a late Saturday evening oddity on SBS – crammed in between Iron Chef and some Scandinavian film, possibly about crossdressing warthogs, to a cornerstone of Australian music culture. Bringing the former SBS staple to venues all around the country, the RocKwiz team have found a just as dedicated and highly responsive live audience if tonight’s gig at the Palais is anything to go by.
It is however, an easy sell: a celebration of an era when our musical identity was decidedly unlike any other. Bands like The Angels, Rose Tattoo, AC/DC and Hunters & Collectors clashed with the likes of Sherbet, Little River Band and John Paul Young. You picked your team and were justly horrified by the opposition. Perhaps one band, however, could truly claim to bridge the gap between team Daryl Braithwaite and team Acca Dacca, and that was Skyhooks. Word is amongst the ARIA honoraria forming the crux of this RocKwiz live music/questions/audience participation experience, something Skyhooks-y is also planned. Split into two halves, the proceedings begin with a 45 minute showdown between thirty lucky punters all vying for a place in the main event.
MC Nankervis gets the ball rolling with a run of easy, quick-fire questions most on the panel – and in the audience – wouldn’t raise a sweat over. Gradually it becomes a games of be quick or be dead until the four finalists are chosen. During the game, pacing and familiarity become all important. A wave of cheers runs through the crowd as the RocKwiz orchestra fires off segments of well-worn tunes for the popular game Million Dollar Riff. All other touchstones of the TV show are in place, but notable in her absence for the first round is host Julia Zimero. An intermission is called before the RocKwiz : ARIA Hall Of Fame celebrations really kick off.
The panellists in place, the presence of real life actual ARIA award winning musicians and, at last, Julia Zimero place us on very familiar ground. From here on in, it’s essentially TV’s RocKwiz in 3D, with Zimero somehow coming across as both queen of music nerds and the one who finds the whole thing a little bit daggy all in one breath. It’s a perfect marriage of fandom and flippancy, and her flirtatious, quick-fire reading of the often awkward panellists is sensational.
The musical guest list stacks new(ish) artists against the old guard, namely prog-rock Santa Clause impersonator, Brian Cadd who delivers a roof-raising performance of Ginger Man backed by Vicka and Linda Bull. Davey Lane from You Am I/The Pictures absolutely shines on a cover of The Master Apprentice’s Its Because I Love You before tackling Split Enz’s History Never Repeats paired with triple j favourite, Olympia. They, along with guests Red Symons and Bongo Starky (Skyhooks), jump in as star panellists throughout the quiz, yet more as an opportunity to share war stories than to answer questions. Then as the game hits the midway mark, without a word of warning the stage lights suddenly dim and famed RocKwiz roadie, Duguld among others begin prepping the stage in record time. The word ‘Skyhooks’ suddenly appears on the backdrop screen as the PA blasts out anticipatory drum rolls. One of the best kept secrets surrounding tonight’s show is who, if they were to perform, would sing lead. With no big reveal or build up, Ross Wilson (of Mondo Rock fame) was the answer. Running through just three hits, Horror Movie, All My Friends Are Getting Married and Million Dollar Riff, Wilson put in a solid performance but lacked the chops to match Strachan’s inimitable range.
Hosting such a landmark one-off reunion for one of Melbourne’s most adored bands from the classic ‘Oz rock’ era is a testament how deeply ingrained in live music culture RocKwiz has become. Beyond being just a platform for music nerds to strut their brains, it has enjoyed ever increasing success by putting fan and musician on even ground – head to head, even – which, if the mythical tall-poppy syndrome truly exists, could hardly fail as a concept. While not quite being the ‘tribute to end all tributes’, RocKwiz Salutes… was a more than generous offering to a room full of Oz music nuts, who were left with little to gripe about.
BY LEIGH SALTER
Loved: It was all about Zimero.
Hated: Just missing out on being selected for the panel by one friggin’ seat.
Drank: Nothing.
