Mason Rack Band
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | INDIE
Music
Press
MATE!....GREAT TO SEE YOU BOYS AT BRIDGETOWN!!!!....PURE ENTERTAINMENT!!....HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK NEXT YEAR AS THE HEADLINE ACT ...I'M A LOCAL AND THE TOWN IS ABUZZ WITH 'MASON RACK WAS THE BEST THING HERE BY A MILE!!'
CHEERS
BIG - mrb
Venue:
Season: one performance only
Duration: 1hr 40mins
Festival Bookings: BASS 131 241 or http://www.bass.net.au
From the moment that they walked onto the stage at the Space Theatre the Mason Rack Band held the attention of the audience. They started with a relatively slow and tranquil intro, which contrasted sharply with the heavy ‘bluesiness’ of the business end of La Grange, a classic ZZ Top number from the Tres Hombres LP of 1973.
Rapturous applause, followed by whistles and shouts, followed each and every one of the thirteen or so numbers of the show. Mason held the attention of his audience, not only with his music but also with tales of his early days as a somewhat ‘mischievous’ young man, later as a bricklayer and then as a musician, to which he said to all the bricklayers out there, “see there is still hope”
An introduction to his guitars ‘Marilyn’, “‘cause she’s a blonde”, and his trademark slide guitar, ‘Jezebel’, “’cause she’s a little bit naughty”, brought a cacophony of laughter, then an introduction to his band members brought plenty more raucous applause.
Crisp tight sound, punctuated with Masons growling, almost demonic vocals and voracious guitar solos were the order of the night, song after song with many a classic in the repertoire, all with the indelible stamp of the band’s own signature style. Both the drummer, Joel, and the bassist, Ross, provided a solid, tight and precise base from which Mason could perform, his guitar ‘dirty’ but clean, without the harshness of the typical ‘fuzz box’, the vocals were menacing at times, but then lilting and soft when required, a truly top class act.
Classics included Baby Please Don’t Go, Who Do You Love, I’m a Man, Voodoo Child, and Beast. One of the highlights of the night was the impromptu drum solo by the drummer, Joel, whilst Mason fixed a broken guitar string, others included a two man drum solo, (Mason, Joel), and Mason drumming on a beer keg, which was wheeled about the stage as required!
For the last number of the set the three members of the band took apart the drum kit, taking a drum or two each, rolled them to the front of the stage and proceeded with a display of drumming that was amazing, moving from drum to drum and throwing the sticks to each other, and all without missing a beat. Yes, the Mason Rack Band can certainly entertain as well as play great blues/rock music. A loud and rousing cry for more persuaded them to perform an encore, not their usual but a brand new number, ‘Take You Home’.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, by one of Australia’s top bands, for lovers of the blues/rock genre.
- Reviewed by Roy Grantham, Guest Critic, Glam Adelaide.
Discography
New dvd out now 2012 , Limits of Grip CD Released 2011, live in canada -2010 , show me yours cd out in 2006, night train, recorded 2004..blues/rock, live recording.
SHOW ME YOURS''; recorded 2005 bloodstock records,aust. jjj airplay...denmark airplay,germany,canada airplay, community airplay...www.masonrack.com
Photos
Bio
AWARD WINNING STAGE SHOW ,INTERNATIONALLY TOURED
Aussie Mason Rack originates from Southport on Queenslands sunny Gold Coast. With his outstanding vocals, guitar and Weissenborn lap slide guitar, Mason delivers high impact performances to audiences everywhere he and his band appear. Mason is a local artist with incredible talent and passion for his music! Together with his band, Mason feels most comfortable playing blues, alt-rock, and roots originals.
Mason was born in the Southport Hospital, Queensland, and started performing at the tender age of 6 playing to charmed audiences with his dad. His father BILLY RACK was a multi-talented jazz musician, an awesome muso and all round legend. Mason said "he was the nicest man I ever knew, a lovely guy, I've always been around his music". Mason was raised on jazz, rock and surfing. He looked set to have a career in surfing, but the lifestyle he was living had other ideas.
His influences include: Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Violent Femmes, Rolling Stones, old blues masters, etc. Songwriter/performer Mason Rack is a natural entertainer, from a tapestry of slide guitar, deep broken glass vocals and story fuelled blues rock. In his own words "I just want to bring the best, meanest, horniest, rockin', swampy, smokey music to my audiences" and "It is a show, more than just the music, it's a visual experience too".
He has played alongside artists like Phil Emmanuel, Tex Perkins, Lisa Hunt, Renee Geyer, Xavier Rudd and Jimmy Barnes. Invited to the 2008/2010 Adelaide International Guitar Festival, and again for 2010. In March, they supported Jimmy Barnes and this year also playing at The Byron Bay Bluesfest, Great Noosa Camp Out, Cairns Blues Festival, Saltwater Festival, Blues On Broadbeach, as well as many more, plus an touring summer festivals in Canada -Tremblant, Nakusp, Calgary, Fire N Water, Rarearth.Has toured canada five times thus far.
Recognized Australia wide. Masons shows are spell-binding! Canada festivals request him for return visits. His Australian fests include Woodford Folk Festival, Blues On Broadbeach, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Australian Blues Music Festival-Goulburn, "The best new blues/roots act ever seen" - Gympie National Music Muster.
He pumps out his music and people cant help but stare.... Mason Rack excels on Weissenborn lap slide and Marilyn the blonde guitar, to pour out tunes influenced by blues, southern stomp, swamp, classic rock and alternative music. Their music is a collection of rock/blues/roots with flashes of Tom Waits and Hendrix, melting towards Ben Harper, with screaming slide, big bass, big drums, big interactive show, and, wait for the surprise in the latest performances - a drum trio/duel thing involving all three band guys in a moving percussion display - it's stunning. Hard to describe - see it for yourself! Mason also does this drum thing in the audience, where he plays on the tables, chairs, walls, bar etc, only to return to the stage to duel it out with apocalyptic drummer extraordinaire, Joel "Thunderfoot" Purkess from Edmonton Canada. It is a must-see thing! and Colossus on bass Nathan Lee-Archer. Funky.
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