TOMMY BRADSON – The Men My Mother Loved
Concert Chamber, Town Hall, Auckland Live, Auckland
06/06/2014 - 07/06/2014
Production Details
The Concert Chamber transforms into a hotbed of decadence as THE EDGE presents a sumptuous five-night engagement of the Cabaret world’s hottest talents, as the inaugural Auckland International Cabaret Season takes place 4th – 8th June 2014, Live at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.
Seven of the scene’s brightest stars indulge audiences with a season that embraces the true spirit of the cabaret. An intoxicating mix of international and locally revered acts offer up a blend of original, classic and contemporary cabaret performances in an intimate cabaret club setting.
“Cabaret superstar” (New York Magazine) Lady Rizo (USA) is a comedienne, chanteuse and cabaret revivalist who has created vintage arrangements and theatrical explorations of pop songs from every decade. A Grammy winner in 2010 as part of a duet with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, she has performed at legendary West Village nightclub Nell’s, entertaining the likes of Prince, Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
Arriving with oversized suitcases jam-packed with 160 pounds of drag, Le Gateau Chocolat (UK), a Nigerian-born, London-based baritone, will set your senses ablaze with opera, musical theatre, jazz, and even some rap. Serving up a delectable confection of hand-picked arrangements as random as a box of chocolates, you’ll fall for his big heart, infectious energy and gargantuan voice.
Fresh from her role in Silo’s homage to Jacques Brel, Julia Deans (NZ) is unleashed on Joni Mitchell’s iconic songbook with Both Sides Now – a world premiere collaboration with former Silo artistic director Shane Bosher.
Dean’s Brel co-star Jennifer Ward-Lealand (NZ) returns to Auckland with Falling In Love Again as the celebrated actress sings highlights from Marlene Dietrich’s films, concerts and recordings.
Michael Griffiths (AUS) makes his highly anticipated return to New Zealand with two one-night-only shows. With In Vogue, Griffiths pays homage to the Queen of Pop, Madonna – with no costume, no accent or wig. Just ‘Madge’ accompanying herself at the piano on a journey through her tough and tender songs. Sweet Dreams, an Auckland premiere, once more pays homage to a diva from the 80’s; this time, Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox.
2013 Green Room Award winner Tommy Bradson (Australia) marks another Auckland premiere with The Men My Mother Loved: it’s the early 80’s, records spin on the radio, groupies flock to gigs to fall for their idols, and a bastard child follows his mother in the shadow of rock n roll.
Rounding off the season’s participants – take four good looking, hip swaying, suave Maori guys crooning a mix of modern day and classic songs in Te Reo and English and you get The Modern Maori Quartet (NZ). Following their sell-out season at Galatos in 2013, this charming quartet are back to serve up more classics with a fresh ‘golden syrup on fried bread twist’.
This is a world class line up of soulful, powerful and comedic cabaret voices – don’t miss the Auckland International Cabaret Season, on for just five nights this June at Auckland Town Hall.
AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL CABARET SEASON
Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE.
Julia Deans – Both Sides Now:
June 4th, 6:30pm and June 8th, 7pm
(Premium -$40, Gallery – $25, Table of 6 -$216)
The Modern Maori Quartet:
June 4th, 8pm and June 8th, 5:30pm
(Premium -$35, Gallery – $20, Table of 6 – $192)
Michael Griffiths – Sweet Dreams:
June 4th, 9:30pm
(Premium -$35, Gallery – $20, Table of 6 -$192)
Michael Griffiths –In Vogue:
June 5th, 9:30pm
(Premium -$35, Gallery – $20, Table of 6 -$192)
Jennifer Ward-Lealand – Falling In Love Again:
June 5th, 6:30pm
(Premium – $35, Gallery – $20, Table of 6 -$192)
Lady Rizo:
June 5th, June 6th, June 7th, 8pm. June 8th, 8:30pm.
(Premium – $45, Gallery – $25, Table of 6 -$234)
Tommy Bradson – The Men My Mother Loved:
June 6th and June 7th, 6:30pm
(Cabaret – $30, Gallery – $20, Table of 6 -$162)
Le Gateau Chocolat:
June 6th and June 7th, 9:30pm.
(Premium – $45, Gallery – $25, Group 6+ -$234)
Bookings through Ticketmaster – www.ticketmaster.co.nz or 09 970 9700 (booking fees apply)
With tenderness, pride and love
Review by Candice Lewis 07th Jun 2014
Tommy Bradson’s semi-autobiographical tribute to his mother is aptly titled. In a society very quick to hand out labels, Bradson shares the story of his mother’s love of music and musicians in a way that frees her from simply being ‘a groupie’. The ‘semi’ aspect of autobiographical makes for a simpler telling of the story: the essence of the truth is conveyed.
Bradson is from Sydney and this is the first time he’s been to Auckland. The Town Hall’s Concert Chamber is great for this show; we sit at circular tables in the chandelier lit room and I’m sipping on my cabaret themed cocktail. The opening number is marked with soft blue-grey smoke – Bradson brandishing a ukulele and delivering a lullaby version of AC/DC’s ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top (if you want to rock ’n’ roll)’.
His voice is clear and almost sweet, the falsetto pleasing. There is a blankness is his expression for much of the song that I can’t read – he’s possibly taking deadpan a little too far into the realm of dead, or perhaps it’s a nod to the ‘shoegazer’ style of musician?
Telling his mother’s story in third person, Bradson describes voices like syrup, sparks flying, the electric wash of guitar, drugs, sex, and joy tinged with inevitable hangovers. The language is poetic and yet not saccharine; he performs predominantly Australian rock ’n’ roll classics that underscore the content of the performance.
The lighting is bold: great blasts of red, blue or violet. The backup band – Sam Leske (Guitar), Andrew Keegan (drums) and Trevor Jones (keyboard) – sounds tight; Leske’s delight shines across the audience.
Bradson does have ‘his own voice’ and a French rendition of ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ by INXS is particularly delicious. I’m no Francophile, but would love a copy of that version. This is a love song for his mum, and that makes me think of my own mum who also got pregnant very young and decided to keep me in an era when most did not. I also love his energy when belting out TNT by AC/DC and wonder if he’s thinking of Bon Scott’s wild eyed delivery.
Bradson’s pace is rushed when singing a Dragon classic which gives the song a karaoke edge. Fortunately, most of his delivery and timing is good; the songs are there to illuminate the story. My friend comments that she is blown away by the fact that there is no misogyny or bitterness when it so easily could have gone there. Yes, it could have. We are given the facts, that this wild young woman enjoyed her ‘sex ’n’ drugs ’n’ rock n roll’, but it is with tenderness that he describes her – with pride. With love.
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