Windari take to the Wesley Anne stage with a shy excitement that is mirrored by the crowd. It seems band and punters alike have a keen sense of anticipation for this album launch show. Walking onto a scene dressed with macramé hanging plants (an oddly perfect backdrop), the band quickly hit their stride, and we’re all suddenly off on a little sonic adventure.
The slightly awkward but rather endearing song introductions by band leader, Eamon Roy, set the scene for each tune – whether it be an ode to walking by Merri Creek or a study on the lives of beekeepers. With each new song, the band really does capture a profound sense of place and time.
Their short Facebook bio describes the band as ‘wilderness jazz’, and while they could be (half-heartedly) described as a jazz ensemble, the live show presents more than just a talented bunch of musos soloing over one another. The interplay between intricate guitar playing, lyric-less vocals and haunting sax is perfectly underpinned by sometimes explosive drumming, which, when put together, create an evocative mix. I’m generally not much of a jazz fan, but what these guys do occupies an otherworldly space somewhere at the weirder fringes of Radiohead or Tom Waits, and it’s hard not to be drawn in by their unique brand of acid bossa nova.
Windari weave a spell on this night, and the set is over seemingly in the blink of an eye. But that’s the nature of dreamscapes – time ceases to exist, but you know you’ve experienced something that’ll stay with you, only to be half-remembered next time you take a walk by the creek.
LOVED: Macramé is the new black.
HATED: Realising I like jazz.
DRANK: Pineal extract.
BY JULIAN DOUGLAS
