Methyl Ethel Review – May 19 2017 at The Corner Hotel, Melbourne.
Kokomo Jones didn’t feel sad as the only guy getting his ID checked at the Corner door. He didn’t even feel sad that his newfound fame as a live music pest didn’t get him a complimentary soft drink or pack of Burger Rings. Kokomo felt sad waiting at the bar, consistently overlooked like so many record execs did to so many of his demo tapes.
Perth stoner and self-proclaimed ‘perv rap’ maestro Reef Prince opened with “Hope you like rap music!”. Kokomo immediately came down with a bad case of the “oh shit what me done, me shoulda stayed home and watched English murder mystery resolution on the ABC” blues. The fresh Prince likes listing his loves in song. Instead of Maybellene and Sherry-baby he pays tribute to pharmacy favourites Xanny, Vally, Lyrey and Codey. Koko was listening. The fresh Prince also has a thing for “chicks who like downers, unlike the girls in Perth who like Meth”. Fully stoked to be on tour with his Ethel mates, Reef_Prince don’t do it for the airplay. He do it for the holiday.
The bassist in Methyl Ethel then became Kokomo’s hero for one night only, dethroning the Reef Prince. While waves of delayed guitar and synth encircled the room and swamped the ears, Thom Stewart told the story. He reassured. He underplayed. He locked in, especially in Weeds Through the Rind. It felt like a warm hug from your daddy.
Final Thoughts
Kokomo felt down with the kids by the end and agreed with all present that the true highlight was the one that goes… “why you have to go and cut you hair why’d you cut your hair”. Dudes waved their hands in the air and girls shook their silky Pantene all about like they were at Sunbury ‘73. It’s Kokomo’s Northern Summer – summer jam.
XoXo – Kokomo
