and d-i-v-o-r-c-e. This was real country, music and dance that emanates from central and northern Australia, as well as the Torres Strait, carrying more meaning than any pseudo-Nashville apologist could offer.
By Paul Andrews, On The Street, 26/1/93
Tonight was country music night at the Annandale Hotel. Which didn't mean the stage was dominated by overweight cowboys with string ties and tobacco juice dribbling down their red satin shirts, or by alcoholic women with flabby upper-arms who're full of songs about their cheating men and d-i-v-o-r-c-e. This was real country, music and dance that emanates from central and northern Australia, as well as the Torres Strait, carrying more meaning than any pseudo-Nashville apologist could offer.
Before Neil Murray and the Rainmakers, it was the turn of four members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island dance group, the Bangarra Dance Theatre, to perform a mixed traditional and modern work called Mulil. Although it's being presented on the floor in front of the stage presented some difficulties for the crowd - it made it almost impossible for people down the back to see. However, it was still something to be appreciated that a performance of this nature was being seen in a pub at all. Particularly stunning was the dancing from the Torres Strait and one piece that featured a single dancer and one haunting, unaccompanied vocal, championing the cause of Aboriginal women. They definitely made a welcome change from what we're used to seeing as a support act.
As for Neil Murray, well, he may not be as handsome, but he's got more genuine feeling honesty and intelligence in his music than a hundred James Blundells. Running though a considerable amount of new material, as well as better known songs such as Calm and Crystal Clear, Murray and the Rainmakers were full of confidence. Known as a writer, not just of the musical variety, Murray treated his audience to a short story reading that was received warmly. Such a move could have easily lost the crowd's attention, but Murray is made of stern stuff and pulled it off with aplomb. The audience were squarely behind him, bursting into a rousing chorus of "Stand up/Stand up and be counted" while waiting for the encore. Eventually, the Warumpi Band favourite, Blackfella Whitefella, was the last song played of the evening.
It never fails to amaze how Murray can create music that mines the same vein as Blundell, only richer, and yet remain far behind in the fame stakes. Maybe it's time he started showing his face on The Midday Show with Ray Martin or something, because people deserve to hear more of him.