Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
Sunday September 14, 2014 :
Months of anticipation were almost at an end as I walked through the familiar doors of my local, almost nothing changes at The Northern. Half cut international tourists fill the front bar mingling with an assortment of locals all in varied stages of alcoholism denial, staring at screens of one sort or another. I almost never go in there, my home away from home is the Backroom, the home of sweaty Rock n Roll in Byron for as long as I can remember. It’s a great place to see a loud live band (even if sometimes it seems patrolled by the SS) and tonight I will bare witness to a living legend.
John Garcia is a rare breed of musician, he has scaled the heights having been instrumental in the formation of a dominant genre which propelled his band Kyuss to the international rock stratosphere and beyond. Upon their seperation John continued his prolific style of artistry with his musical perpetuations Slo Burn and Unida releasing landmark albums with JG at the helm and later reforming Kyuss (Lives!) to a sold out World Tour and releasing another LP under the controversially arrived at moniker of Vista Chino.
Add to that John’s very latest self titled solo work and tonight held promise of being yet another ever welcome addition to my list of unforgettable Garcia performances.
I arrived early and met up with a few mates, we chatted and blew the froth off a couple as the USA based support, Waxy, hit the stage. They were a classic rock, dirty stoner fashioned 4 piece with keys and a singing guitarist. Perhaps it was the expectation of what was to come that left me wanting. Nothing about Waxy was particularly bad, it’s just that nothing got me terribly excited either. They had moments where my attention was captured only to lose me soon thereafter. I dont think I’m alone in this, though plenty of people were raising their glasses and hooting after each tune.
Was great seeing so many familiar heads out, even more so in the knowledge that we were all there for the same reason and it was beaming from every smile in the place as Mr John Garcia joined his already humming band on the stage.
What followed was one of the best sets of straight up troubador badass Rock n effin Roll I have been witness to. Despite struggling with his in-ear monitors, John swaggered, howled and down right conjured through a hit list from his entire catalogue of works. Launching with ‘March of the Caterpillar’ followed by ‘Demoncleaner’ had the crowd surging from the outset and the beer and bodies were flying. A couple of fresh cuts from the solo release met with unwavering enthusiasm and many in the crowd (to my surprise) already had a handle on the lyrics, such is the dedication of this man’s fan.
As the band hit their straps around the pairing of ‘Tangy Zizzle’ and ‘Gloria Lewis’, the set was scarcely half over and already it was all class and carnage in the Backroom as one of the more generous front men of rock royalty gave and gave to the faithful sea cavorting at his feet.
A few newies later and the first notes of ‘El Rodeo’ began to tease the sweat drenched throng, a pitch of excitement washed over the room and remained throughout as we were indulged in a sonic smorgasbord of delicious deliveries. With ‘Thumb’, ‘SupaScoop’ and ‘Green Machine’ spoiling the flailing faithful like a bunch of 10 year olds let loose in Disneyland!
As drunken exhaustion prevailed and the band exited the stage for the last time there was the rare sense that the crowd had taken all they could justifiably handle on a Byron Sunday, Emperor John had again conquered all in his campaign to sate the loyal hordes once more.
Thanks for the memories and godspeed Mr Garcia!
Reviewer and Photographer: Quenched
[nggallery id = 340]