Graham Hobson & the BRS

I headed into BarSoma on a night where the planets were aligning themselves with the moon and the sun to effect a long forgotten dread of superstition still locked within the cells of one’s DNA. The Valley seemed dead – the perfect backdrop to a horror flick. Trying to shake off the irrational trepidation from my shoulders, I walked into Bar Soma to be unexpectedly confronted by a boisterous lively crowd who, unlike me, seemed quite oblivious in their good cheer to the astral phenomenon occurring outside. Indeed, this was an impressive turnout for a Tuesday night for Graham Hobson & The Blue Rinse Set to launch their new album. While the rest of the Valley was listless, BarSoma was a den of anticipation and merriment. This was undoubtedly a reflection on the ambience and quality music churning from the amazing sound system within.
Chrissy Bowden had warmed up the crowd with her smooth vocals, leaving an empty stage rife with speakers, a drum kit, microphones and a nicely dressed Roland AS-5 keyboard. As the musicians wandered onto the stage and set themselves up behind their instruments, the audience seemed to hold a collective breath. Graham Hobson seated himself at the keyboard, his cheeks shining pinkly under the lights, and with a slide from the electric bass guitar, the band heartily launched into Fat Albert’s theme Gonna Have a Good Time. When a bunch of musos start with such a tune, it’s a clear indication that the audience is up for one heck of a night. With exquisite showmanship, Hobson masterfully led the band through a composite of original tunes and a few artfully transcribed covers.
Original tunes from their album included Super Cool, Human Nature, So Beautiful, Song for Julie, Making Amends, Townsville, Poor Poor Stephen, Wasting My Days, Waiting for the Sun, Chemistry, and Holiday; their hearty rhythms ringing the rafters with optimistic words and a highly positive outlook on the world. From the first beats of Super Cool, legs were swinging and feet were tapping as infectious rhythms and grooves washed over the crowd. The evening’s happy proceedings were faithfully recorded as cameras caught the blissful goings-on of a great band and the wonderful atmosphere they established.
Graham’s voice was smooth – a modern day David Cassidy, a less husky Richard Marx, a more profound Elton John or a reserved Billy Joel; with a far more polish and sophistication (and better dress sense too, one should not forget to mention). There were wonderful flourishes from the keyboard, as Graham’s voice superbly mingled with the Rhodes-sounding patches. His voice brimmed with heartfelt emotion, waning between eloquence and innocence. But always, always, that sense of positive reaffirmation spoke to the heart.
Behind him, the drums were quite superb. Will Eager affected plenty of tight high hats and cymbals with a few rimshots from the snare added for good measure. His toms were resounding, the profundity of their tone and rhythms carrying prominently to buoy the message of the tunes. Often, the timing seemed hurried rather than tight; much in the manner of a neverending and enthusiastic rushing river. The beats certainly were never dropped – it seemed more a sense of haste and flurry; no doubt provoked by the excitement of the evening. Sam Vincent on bass was brilliant; the resounding tones of his instrument undulating wonderfully through the mix as he directed the impetus of the grooves. The bass superbly balanced the high-pitched tones of Graham’s voice and the keys; producing deep spaces between each texture and thus giving the overall layout a greater sense of fullness. His notes were satisfyingly thick and chunky; wonderfully maintained by Graham’s keyboard accompaniments and embellishments. Tom Roberts alternated with an amplified steel string guitar and an electric one; the steel strings battling lightly with the bass heavy offerings from the electric bass. The steel strings melded superbly with the dry piano patch of the keys; their amalgamation serving to add a refined quality to the overall mix. At times, the bass and guitar playfully battled with each other; their tones contesting mischievously with each other and supplementing the band’s timbres. Mick Patrick alternating between rhythm guitar and amplified violin inflated the mix beautifully; though the violin at first seemed too low in the mix. When the time came for the solo however, the sonorous tones were prominent and plentiful in the rich consommé that was The BRS. Mick’s presence added a conventional touch to the modern sounds; the traditional folk violin tones lending a balladic touch to the modern contredanse of Graham’s vocals and The BRS. Beside Graham, the smooth backup vocals of Luke Kennedy and Chrissy Bowden supported Graham’s own velvety offerings; providing a wonderfully warm texture that seemed overwhelming but never over the top.
Together, the members on stage uncovered their wonderful talents and spirits to a crowd exceedingly pleased to accept such generous gifts. The undisputed resilience and enthusiasm from the music was contagious; leaving brilliant smiles firmly planted on everyone’s face and feet moving industriously on the dance floor. The evening ended with much fun as shouts and pleadings for “more” resounded throughout the bar. Graham and the BRS immediately launched into an encore medley of TV Shows. From themes straight out of Laverne and Shirley, to Believe it Or Not from The Greatest American Hero and the themes from The Goodies and Family Ties, the audience was held spellbound as the bouncing rhythms and familiar grooves exhorted them to dance dance dance. To know that such great original music was being produced in the small relatively unknown town of Brisbane is hugely gratifying. As I headed away from BarSoma with the huge sounds of the band still following me, I couldn’t help looking up at the red moon that had earlier held me in such thrall of primitive, superstitious fear. That sense of dread had left me now to be replaced by a sense of good vibes; leaving me to hum, “Nah Nah Nah – Gonna have good times!”
Graham Hobson and the Blue Rinse Set’s debut album Hairbrained Scheme is out now as an independent release


- Lady Lex

GRAHAM HOBSON AND THE BLUE RINSE SET 7/10
Hairbrained Scheme (Independent)
Once again, I am gobsmacked by the talent sitting in our own backyards. Graham Hobson 'Your friendly axe-wielding pianoman' from Brisbane has launched Hairbrained Scheme along with his mates The Blue Rinse Set. Forget The Whitlams comparisons - the first track is a bouncy and upbeat Ben Folds style deal, followed by tracks that take influences from The Beach Boys to The Beatles to Bowie. 'Chemistry' is a standout treat that makes me wonder why this guy isn't signed yet. A waka-waka porn jam on 'Sugar Daddy', some heart touching melodies and a 'Holiday' vibe on track 12 gives this a hippie feel with an urban grind (Jenliza).
- Jenliza

Titled Hairbrained Scheme, the 12-track CD kicks off with the catchy piano-pop tune Super Cool.
Each and every track on this album varies in flavour from up-tempo to the all-instrumental Sugar Daddy and even some slower ballads like So Beautiful.
Other original songs on the album include Human Nature, Poor Poor Stephen, Waiting for the Sun, Wasting My Days, Chemistry, and my favourite, Townsville.
Every song on the album is catchy and easy to get hooked on.
To compare Graham Hobson and the BRS to any musician/group, to me, they fall somewhere between Elton John, James Blunt and Billy Joel.
- Isis Symes

IF YOU LIKE your piano loud, your vocals loaded, your beer cold and your TV 80s, then you must meet Graham Hobson & the BRS. Right away it’s obvious you’re in for much more than some loud piano with loaded vocals.

Graham Hobson himself seems to have a personality larger than life, so we’ll let him describe his own sound.

“Like someone spiked the choir’s punch bowl,” he remarks without a flinch. “It’s catchy piano power-pop that will have you singing at the top of your lungs in your car on the way home from the shop. Sure, you’ve spilled your burger all over your new jeans and the soccer mum in the next car across looks really disturbed – but you just don’t give a damn. You play air drums – you rock!”

Hobson has cut his teeth playing piano bars for over a decade at Australia’s finest and downright scariest venues. A feature of his shows is an eclectic playlist that jumps from rock to roots, ballads to funk. His album Hairbrained Scheme is no exception.

“The plan was to make an album that I wanted to listen to in the car and could sing along to uninhibited,” Hobson explains. “That’s not always the coolest music to admit to liking, but I want my music to be people’s guilty pleasure – I’m down with that. I’m a sucker for vocal layers, too – Beach Boys, Queen, Beatles – so that’s a feature. I wanted the sound, the look, everything to be unashamedly fun. “

“When it came to the sleeve, I knew I didn’t want a shot of me trying to look aloof and cool – ’cause, let’s face it, I’m not that guy. I wanted some shots that were funny, or in strange locations or had something different about them. We chopped up a piano with an axe in my backyard and I’ve had lots of people on MySpace asking if that was real – yes, I really did chop up a piano!”

Graham Hobson & The BRS play Barsoma
Tuesday Aug 28. Hairbrained Scheme
available now online at iTunes, CD Baby
and www.grahamhobsonbrs.com.

Ben Preece


- Ben Preece

Graham Hobson & the BRS Chemistry (2007)

rating: 5/5

Out there jump around the room pop. Cool to see a band not taking themselves too seriously

MichBitch
23 Nov, 2007

rating: 5/5


Wow its great to see this band on unearthed, i stumbled across them in a bar in Brisvegas and thought they were fantastic. A cross between Ben Folds, a little beatle-ish and even some of the quirkyness of sissor sisters. I hope to hear loads more from them.

Nunzi
19 Nov, 2007


rating: 5/5


Brilliant.. love this song!!

Deanh
16 Nov, 2007


rating: 5/5


Chemistry is catchy as!!! Kinda like the love child of Blur, the Stones and Mika.

Tales
14 Nov, 2007


rating: 4/5

Cool John Lennon vocals, some nice breakdowns. a bit repetitive but catchy. Great Sax Solo.

Brendan Skinner and the Relevant Advice Club
27 Nov, 2007

rating: 4/5

Really liked this track - reminded me of some early work by The Gents. It had me singing it's Chemistry - woo hoo hoo.. before I knew what was going on. Very catchy work!

ghostwhoworks
23 Nov, 2007



Graham Hobson & the BRS Holiday (2007)

rating: 5/5

I really enjoyed this track. Bit of surprise, but man it sure cooked up some images of just getting to kick back, relax and do bugger all. It's got a good pop groove, and hints of Ben Folds and a little bit of wah. I suppose if I could criticise at all it would be that it's a bit family friendly. Still a great track though! I would like to see what else this guy has in his back of tricks.

ghostwhoworks
23 Nov, 2007


rating: 5/5

Pop?? this sounds more like ROCK to me - Great Rock (makes me wish I was in Byron now - bring on summer)

Nicky88
16 Nov, 2007

rating: 5/5

this song lets you relate to the local lyrics, slap your thighs, cut some mean air guitar and sing the harmonies....... what more could you ask!!! brilliant!!

Bis
16 Nov, 2007


rating: 5/5

Big Loud Oz Summer Song. Makes me want to be in Byron now.

Emma S
14 Nov, 2007

Graham Hobson & the BRS Waiting For The Sun (2007)

ating: 5/5


the only thing better than this song is their live performance of it!

Bis
16 Nov, 2007

rating: 5/5

Wow! it's like Mika met the Beatles and together they played some good time soul

msd
15 Nov, 2007

rating: 5/5


Bow-chikka-wah-wah funky pop grooves. Makes we want to dance!!! Love it!!

Emma S
14 Nov, 2007

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