French Ska & Reggae outfit Babylon Circus are back in Adelaide as part of their Australian tour.
Last seen at WOMADelaide in 2010, the very eclectic French group come back to SA, bringing us the very best of gypsy rock.
Upon their return to Adelaide last night, the sold out Space Theatre was transformed into a cabaret-style, mezzanine-floored club with intimate tables. Fortunately for the many who brought their dancing shoes, there was plenty of room to move to the infectious upbeats.
Babylon Circus got the keen crowd jumping with the title track from their recently released fifth album, Never Stop, a mighty song of criticism and hope in equal measures.
Ringmaster David Baruchel (sporting some fine tweed) and fellow front-man (and waistcoat fan) Manuel Nectoux schooled us in the French words we would need for the show, with the dance-worthy De la musique et du bruit (“Music and Noise”). Charming us further, things started to heat up, with Chanson d’amour (“Song of love”), featuring a very French piano accordion expertly handled by Rimbaud (later on clarinet and saxophone), accompanying Clement Amirault on trombone, and Valentin Meylan on trumpet.
The cheeky, comedic Baruchel scissor-kicked his way through the self-described peaceful revolution of their music in its universal language, with his thrilling showmanship. When he announced “that the louder you scream, the longer we play”, the crowd erupted with enthusiasm. In amongst their clever craft and theatrics was a command to jump (à la Kris Kross), which shook the mezzanine and united the obedient pit of dancers. Sore calves today? Worth it.
From their 2004 anti-war album Dances of Resistance, came the powerful Lost inna jungle, and L’huile sur le feu (“The oil on the fire”), further showcasing Jo on guitar, the soulful bass of Jean-Michel Coret, Olivier Soumali on keyboards and the shirtless Rémy Labordère on drums.
The crowd roared for more, and Babylon Circus capitulated with a tremendous encore of Babylon Requiem from the new album, and then, from the 2009 album La Belle étoile, one of the best final numbers ever in La cigarette (the meaning of which has been described by Baruchel as, “the one you smoke right after love”). Genius.
Babylon Circus, you had us at bonsoir. Merci beaucoup!
Reviewed by Gordon Forester
Venue: Space Theatre, King William Street, Adelaide
Season: “Sessions 2014” runs 02 -24 January 2014
Duration: 1 ¼ hour
Tickets: $30.00 – $43.00
Bookings: www.bass.net.au
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