Barons of Tang and Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band at the Kings Arms

You can probably tell from the title of this post that this is not exactly a review of a metal gig. But hey, sometimes one likes to venture outside one’s own comfort zone.

On Friday night, after stopping by my husband’s practice room to help him unload his drumkit, I headed into town to join some friends at my favourite local venue – the Kings Arms Tavern. Some “gypsy punk cabaret” bands were on, and that sounded like just the kind of thing I might enjoy.

Barons of Tang

First up, the Barons of Tang, a “dutch synth, grindcore, tango” group from Melbourne, consisting of a dude on screamo vocals and a double bass, a percussionist who brings to mind Dave Lombado mixed with whoever plays for Florence and the Machine, an accordion, and some misc. horns. It was ridiculous, and I loved it. People danced! Actually danced! As in, holding hands and skipping, and waggling their elbows about and kicking out their heels and I even saw a couple of metalheads headbanging.

After them came the Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band, (Myspace here) who have been quite a famous local act for the past ten years or so, but who I’ve never actually got to see. The lead singer reminds a little of an absinthe-pliied Amish man, with one of the most seductive voices I’ve heard in a long time. The music was manic you’d get into a dancing groove and then, suddenly, the tempo and time signature would change completely.

Banka Boradovsky Bordello Band

It is always an interesting experience being in a different crowd. While I definitely noticed a few metalheads around, the people here were not my usual crowd. We started off the night with our elbows around our heads, ready to jab at anyone who trampled us, but it was not a trampling kind of show. What a pleasant change! I loved how everyone enjoying losing themselves in the music; no one cared how stupid they looked dancing – and we all looked a bit mad.

This girl had a HUGE scrap with her friend in the mosh pit ... er, dance floor. But she seems to have forgotten about it.

It was a fun night out with friends and a great start to a fun-filled weekend (more details of other things later). What did you get up to?

Steff