James Bowers
When a band walk on stage at Queenscliff Music Festival and they’re dressed as a chicken, banana, shaman, and a carrot respectively, you hardly expect anything but comedy. And at an initial glance this band is hilarious, however they also happen to be some of the most talented and unique musicians around Melbourne. The music of Dudes With Trowels is some of the most honest and deep musical experiences I’ve witnessed.
These four gentlemen – all of whom study music at the VCA – play completely improvised music and take it in any direction they feel like, with nothing holding them back as they shift between reggae, blues, classical and jazz. It is very difficult to categorise the music of Dudes With Trowels. Interestingly, they were featuring at QMF under the banner of ‘blues/roots’. Despite the audience arriving with this preconception, the band were very well received.
Benjamin Harrison
Several crowd members approached them after the show to tell them how much they loved the music, one fan even comparing it to the great Ravi Shankar.
This music is different. Vastly different to any other music heard at the festival. And though all the members play in many other more conventional bands, notably The Megahorns (who played several sets at QMF), in this environment they each truly express themselves with a distinct lack of self-consciousness and a quiet charisma which allows them to connect with their audience and draw them in. It makes them see past the chicken suit and look just a little bit deeper and really listen, in an unexpected but welcome manner.
The Chicken Man from Dudes With Trowels also features on the newest YouTube hit, busking outside Flinders Street Station. I’m not gonna lie with this one, this video IS hilarious!
Dudes With Trowels did not place in the Foot-in-the-door competition. They also received a slap on the wrist for misleading the judges with their responses to the entry criteria. Indigo4music supports the widening of musical categorisation and blurring of genre boundaries, represented by Dudes With Trowels.
Dudes With Trowels
The Brickhouse @ QMF
Competing in the “Blues, Roots and Beyond” Foot-in-the-door competition
8.30-8.45pm
Dudes With Trowels on facebook
Dudes With Trowels are:
James Bowers (dressed as a chicken) – melodica, synth, Sound Wizard keyboard
Ben Harrison (dressed as a banana) – pocket trumpet, harmonica, whistle, hand bells
Gareth Thomson (dressed as a shaman) – drums and toys
James Mclean (dressed as a freak) – drums and toys
Occasional guest: Andy Szentandrassy (dressed as a carrot) – tuba
on Jan 2nd, 2010 at 6:45 am
I think they should come to Summerland, BC. Wonderful!