Words by Jimmy Glinster
KPix by Squirty G
We were about to call it a night after Good Things Festival before Krispy got an invite for the HEAVY team to hit up a blues show in the city. A bike ride from the hotel to a dodgy back alley in the city sends us down a staircase and into a basement. Birds Basement to be precise.
It’s not what you’re thinking, but a semi-hidden doorway puts us down a very classy looking staircase and into what turns out to be some super swanky underground jazz bar. This is a seated situation where you are designated a table and chairs. We are the odd ones out in our collection of HEAVY shirts, some of which you all know are slightly offensive.
We take our seats to the smooth blues grooves of Kevin Borich who is donning a very metal guitar, in a Gibson Thunderbird. If you are wondering who Kevin Borich is, he is Lucius Borich from COG’s old man. If you know who that is.
It’s not long before the rhythm section of Jon Carson and Chris Gilbert kick into a drum and bass jam, a thumping one. These guys are one of Australia’s tightest rhythm sections. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend a week watching them jam in the middle of the ocean for the Rock The Boat cruise this time last year. Kevin joins in with the jam and they smash into some very tasty blues.
After that’s done, Kevin switches out to one of the most pimped-out Fender Strat‘s that I have ever seen. This things got more Sparkle and Shine than a stripper in a glitter fight after a KY Jelly Wrestling match. I’ll add here that the average punter in this place has a good 10-15 years on me, at least. And for those of you who don’t know how old I am, let’s just say it’s fucking old.
This is nothing more than a big old jam session, a lot of which seems to be highly improvised. You wouldn’t be able to tell though, because these guys are as tight as those people that only eat out on cheap-ass Tuesdays. This next one has some lyrics though, and apparently it was written back in the 70’s sometime. That’s before my time, but now you get an idea about the age of this artist and his fan base. Nevertheless, that was a killer song! So groovy and bluesy.
Now it’s time for a short intermission as some smooth jazz tunes play through the PA amongst the conversations at each table. Tables that were previously silent in awe of the musicianship that was moments earlier being displayed.
Happy Birthday Dicky, whoever the fuck Dicky is. Maybe Dickie Knee?
Unlike the bands I usually watch, the amp setup is a little different with 2 Quilter 12-inch combos surrounding Kevin like his own little personal fold back system. This would be a much different feel with the tone hitting you face on rather than hitting you in the back. I’d love to get in there and have a jam to test it out.
It’s one killer blues jam after another and as each song ends the crowd erupts with applause. It doesn’t even matter that I don’t know a single one of these songs because just watching these 3 seasoned musicians owning their instruments and smashing these rocking blues tunes is just one hell of a good time.
I always find it extremely interesting watching different styles of playing, and watching Kevin is a lesson in accuracy, sustain, control, flawless smooth slides and super quick position switching. And who would have thought that just a couple of hours ago I was talking guitar technique with Kerry King...
It’s funny where a day can take you, but I’m sure glad that it brought me here, even though one of my favourite bands of all time, Korn, are currently onstage at Good Things Festival. Oh well, I’ll catch them on Sunday in Brisbane, but I may never get a chance to see this again.
And that my friends, was the end to my first 22 hours in Melbourne.
