On a planet reeling with crippling debt, widening wealth inequality, extremism, wars and all sorts of other future shock, it is thoroughly relieving to have folk such as Nicky Bomba, maestro for the Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO), light up the world and put a bit of fun back into our lives.

…..and so it was on a lovely Friday evening that he and his outfit rode into town to deliver a two hour set full of all manner of offbeat madness to a near 250 person audience at Altar Bar, Hobart. Almost a year to the day later, MSO returned to the scene of their last Hobart sojourn to deliver a second dose of skanking good times.

Built around the success of the previous Monte Loco tour, this iteration saw the band expand its’ repertoire of songs from across the Ballad of Monte Loco album and its’ vast back catalogue, keeping the show fresh and full of vibrancy.

Nicky Bomba revealed many of his, and the band’s many influences throughout the night, tipping their hats to the likes of Lee Scratch Perry, James Brown, Stranger Cole and Bootsy Collins, along with nods to Toots & The Maytalls and The Wailers through the set-ending Medley (see below).

He also has a magnificent presence as the frontman, and keeps the crowd thoroughly engaged with his call-and-response interactions, many of which border on hilarity and thus make the attendees feel very much part of the show as they enthusiastically involve themselves before erupting into dancing once again.

There are very few times that I can say I have attended gigs which see nearly everybody up on their feet dancing (or at least swaying heavily to the beat of the music) but this is not a one-off phenomenon with MSO, it is a reality at their every performance, this one included. It is hard not to find yourself being caught up in the infectious rhythms and beats that the ska and reggae that the band produce.

MSO Setlist:

1 – The Brave, The Mean & The Wild Ones
2 – No Doubt About It
3 – Lygon St Meltdown
4 – He’s A Tripper
5 – John Wayne
6 – Read Between The Lines
7 – Walls of Jericho
8 – Solitary Island Sway
9 – When Bootsy Came to Town
10 – Bom Bom Bom
11 – Pay No Mind
12 – Automatically Man
13 – Get Smart
14 – One Thing
15 – The Best Things In Life Are Free
16 – Spring In My Step
17 – Kenji San
18 – Medley (Run Joe, My Girl Lollipop, Simmer Down, Monkey Man)

Melbourne Ska Orchestra Gallery (click on images to see full size):



































































…..and if it wasn’t enough to fill your Sergio Leonie and Trinity obsession, The Smith & Western Jury were up first to genuinely warm up the growing crowd.

Far from the days when bands would put on low quality support acts and give them poor sound and lighting, The Smith & Western Jury sprung a huge surprise for all of those punters who had arrived early to get the full value out of their ticket price……and value it definitely turned out to be.

Fronted by guitar-wielding vocalist, Samantha Lombardi, with Simon Torcasio (guitar), Kevin Orr (bass) and Aaron Barnett (drums) alongside, this outfit drew in the crowd with a polished performance full of cinematic (a la Terrence Hill & Bud Spencer), and traditional country mixed with equal parts rock & roll and the goodness of some delectible surf twang.

The Smith & Western Jury Setlist:

1 – Hell Must be Empty
2 – Have Mercy
3 – Pony Club
4 – Lucky Stars
5 – Link/Rolling The Dice
6 – Trouble/Jolene
7 – Hotel Texas

The Smith & Western Jury Gallery:































All images: ©fullonrockphotography/Andrew Fuller

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