Mrs Peacock comprises Dave Smith and Jarrod Baker, pretty much a couple of laid back Kiwi Trevs who aspire to that very Australian (not that they advertise that particular factoid themselves) calling of being rockstars.

They cope well with an unenthusiastic initial audience response, and just meet us on our level, kicking off with a classically average pop/rock song about sleeping with their dead friend’s girlfriend, as an example of lyrical subject matter (lesson one).  They keep the crowd chuckling, sometimes with a funny joke, sometimes with a joke so predictable that it’s hilarious.  All the way imparting their essential know-how into what is truly Rock.  Lesson two clears the way for what is rock with examples of what is not rock.

There are a tidy ten shoddy lessons all told, and I shan’t try to impart them as I feel underqualified to do so.  It’s really the sort of education that you would serve yourself best by paying the fifteen bucks for your own hour long crash course.

Since they can’t play any covers without having to fork out APRA fees, each example is a generic approximation with ironic and/or absurd vocal style and lyrics.  Creating the generic examples of the variant styles explored is quite a feat in itself.  Most examples they provide are mainly of the lamer styles of rock (Christian rock, Nu-metal, and the current money-spinner Emo).  Presumably these are the easier styles to parody, and I dare say Mrs Peacock herself – I mean themselves – might tell you they could do more accomplished forms with better production values but that smacks of effort, which is apparently an element to be studiously avoided by the true dedicated rocker.  (Lesson something: Attitude Not Talent).

There is indeed much mirth to be milked from the cheap, shabby, lack-of-polish approach in comedic terms.  Even when they have no comeback for a gung-ho heckler, they simply shrug and move on and we laugh because in Rock ‘n’ Roll it’s uncool to try too hard.  They sure make not trying too hard look less easy than it’s supposed to.

I wonder if Mrs Peacock have any aspirations to developing a slicker, more professional Rock 101 seminar, or not?  The musical ability displayed in this ‘poor theatre’ version would suggest they could raise the entertainment value by degrees with more budget, maybe a live rhythm section.  Of course there’d always be purists who reckon they were better when it was just them two with no mixer.

The format reminds me of Te Radar’s show with it’s lecture seminar type delivery, although appropriately with less budget – where did they get that old school overhead projector?  Just seeing one of those is a trip down memory lane in itself.

Ultimately Rock 101 is more a connected series of excuses for some dumb rock joke songs.  As is, it’s an adequate hour of escapism.  But if it’s a work in progress one can potentially see stadiums and shiny tour buses in Mrs Peacock’s future.  And groupies, real ones, not just pretend.

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Popular favourites ‘Mrs Peacock’ – Jarrod Baker, Dave Smith, two mics, one guitar (well two, but one at a time played by Dave) and a digital music player – open Rock 101 with their excellent song to a late friend Tony, compiled I suspect with much recourse to a rhyming dictionary as the true nature of this ‘best mates’ relationship is revealed.

This exemplifies Lesson One: Subject Matter – a friend has died. Lesson Two covers How Not to Rock – what or who is not Rock? Answer: Jack Johnson, dispatched in a short sharp musical epitaph. The Songwriting lesson tells us how to be successful rather than good. The first genre lesson satirises Christian Rock, later Nu Metal is targeted, then the love song is inverted to an evol one.

Their beautiful low-key delivery combines with great musicality to ensure each lesson is entertaining. A Rock History lesson takes us through the 1950s, 60s and 70s (I’d argue, by the way, that Bill Haley and The Comets, not Elvis Presley, were the first to define the genre, with ‘Rock Around the Clock’). Myths about performing under the influence are busted and genre cross-overs get a great run.

So how to you bring it all together? With emo rock, of course; with the plaintive refrain, "You don’t understand my pain". Brilliant. And they have a strong enough fan base now to as for requests come encore time. We were treated to ‘Newtown Love Song’, involving a New World checkout girl. Bliss.

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