When big stars light up our small town
Last December, Luke Steele invited me to play the drums with him and his father, Rick Steele, at a pre-Christmas gig. Despite my initial concerns about not having at least one rehearsal, Luke assured me we’d be fine. These guys are top musicians, so I trusted their judgment. Rick Steele is a legendary Bluesman, inducted into the West Australia Music Hall Of Fame in 2016, and his son, Luke Steele, is an eight-time award-winning singer-songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist and one of the producers of the electro-pop duo, Empire Of The Sun.
The venue was packed, and our two performances were electric. Cruz Steele, Sunny Steele, Jodi Steele, Liz Steele and friends Pippa Le Lievre, Alan and Julia Rhodes, and Stu Pedley all contributed to two memorable nights. Rick has a monthly column in the Have a Go News in Australia. I asked him if Coromind could publish the article where he captured the magic of the event. I received a warm “Go for it”. So here it is. Big thanks to the Steele whānau!
“There was movement at the station cause the word had got around.” Apologies but no writer’s royalties to Banjo Patterson. It felt a little like that last week when I performed at the Monkey House, situated in a small coastal town in New Zealand Aotearoa – translated as ‘the land of the long white cloud’.
In my opening remarks, I stated that I was a Kiwi who had been living in Australia a long time, but was very happy to be home in the ‘Land of the wrong white crowd’. There is quite an argument going on over here about changing place, street and town names from English to Māori.
My predominantly white audience laughed and the show commenced. I was slightly apprehensive. The support acts had featured my granddaughter solo, and my grandson, with his father, warming the capacity crowd into monumental expectations of the main act … moi!
Luckily I got off to a good start, and after a couple of songs including, ‘She was a big boutique beer drinking woman’, I called super-guitar-playing son on stage with a drummer from Brazil (who I’d only met at sound check), and we were off. Much merriment, mirth, rock ‘n roll and dancing ensued, and so say all of us.
From what I have been told, this wonderful little theatre/club, capacity of a hundred and fifty, was originally a factory for processing fish. Molly and Kaspur from New York were sidelined during the pandemic and a niche idea was created. About six months ago, my son discovered the place and with his wife began an ‘Open Mike’ night followed by a weeklong songwriters’ ‘Fest’ in the school holidays for young performers of the local district school. Because of the location, this school caters for all grades from four year olds to seventeen.
Paul Kelly wrote the song, but was it an indigenous concept? ”From little things, big things grow.” It just goes to show, plant the seed, water and take care and watch it grow. My mother used to say children are like little plants that have to be nurtured and cared for. I agree. Our night was so successful, we are planning another before I leave and I am excited.
I’ve been invited to do an interview on local radio (PS: Seniors, it’s not called the wireless anymore) and I might even make the local press. Meantime, I’m being forced into walks along the beach followed by a cleansing ale at Grace O’Malley’s eating and drinking Emporium.
A man walks into the deed poll office and addresses the young lady.
“I would like to change my name.”
“Yes sir, please state your current name, and that which you would like to change it to. Then we fill in the paperwork.”
“Yes ma’am, my name at present is: ”George Stickypants!”
She nearly collapsed in suppressing her laughter …
“And I want to change it to ‘Bill Stickypants’!”
Cheers dears
With the silly season just around the corner, our Hauraki-Coromandel region will once again be blessed with incredible gigs and performances catering to everyone. It’s time to polish your dance shoes and get ready to sing the blues!
Photography: Karen McLeod Photography
Words by Rick Steele and Leonardo Magri
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