“Live at the Masonic – Auckland 18/06/2011”    

Brilleaux       2011

Reviewer: Franc Sterling

Brilleaux, Tauranga’s R‘n’B kings present us with another CD, once again showing them in the live environment. 

The band is named after the frontman for Dr Feelgood, Lee Brilleaux; the group the British punk movement agrees was a big influence on their bands because they played short, energetic songs. 

Live is obviously the arena where they feel relaxed, as their first two CDs “Welcome to the Brilleaux Show” (2000) and “Maximum Rhythm & Blues” (2002) were recorded live ‘in the studio’ with only the odd overdub. This is not their first ‘in front of an audience’ recording either. In 2007 they released “Live at the Colosseum – Tauranga”; but only one song remains from that set, the original rocker ‘PhD in Stupidity’.  

The band is back to their 4 piece guitar line-up too. No keyboards this time. 10 songs made up this album; 5 originals and 5 British R‘n’B classics. (All of these cover songs having been played, at some time, by Dr Feelgood).

The gig opens with ‘Pictures of Her Majesty’, an original up-tempo piece using cockney slang to describe paper money. Following this is the song ‘PhD……’, a more energetic version than on their 2007 recording.

The next 4 tracks are all Dr Feelgood classic ‘live’ numbers, taken from different periods of their existence. ‘Neighbour Neighbour’ is from 1984. The John ‘Gypie’ Mayo number ‘Take a Tip’ captures the spirit of that era (1978). ‘Nothing Shakin’…’ with its driving harmonica, is from 1977 (also recorded by The Beatles and British rocker Billy Fury).

‘Quit While you’re Behind’ is from 1987. ‘Ellas McDaniels’ is the band’s nod towards the legendary rock ‘n’ roll guitarist / song writer Bo Diddley, the master of the, er, ‘Bo Diddley rhythm’; here played in an R‘n’B style.

‘I Love Girls’ is a self-explanatory original, put to a ZZ Top boogie beat. This one should have them dancing. (This is when the band is introduced to the audience). ‘Buddy Buddy Friends’ again takes us back to Dr Feelgood circa 1977. Another dance number!

The best is left to last, the (autobiographical?) same old story about the missus, ‘She’s Got the ’ump’. It’s a great original up-tempo song, given (of course) the Feelgood treatment and a good one to finish the set.

Presented in a gatefold cover and released by the band, these 10 rockin’ tracks are a perfect representation of the high energy show you would expect from Brilleaux and is a fine companion to their 2007 “Live at the Colosseum” CD.

Recommended:

‘PhD in Stupidity’, ‘She’s got the ’ump’.

Available:                                                                   Info:

www.brilleaux.co.nz/discography www.brilleaux.co.nz