In case you are unaware of Tripod, I think that they are the best musical comedy act working in Australia. If you have yet to discover them, it’s time you did and these relaxed, diverse August shows are a great place to start. Tripod have been writing and singing silly songs for over a decade. When they began they had to walk in the footseps of other ‘3 guys & a guitar’ comedy groups like The Doug Anthony Allstars and The Found Objects and they quickly showed they could stand right along side them and better them, in my opinion. Since then, they have won many awards, appeared in a multitude of strong live shows, and regularly featured on TV, especially in Skithouse and The Sideshow. I remember seeing them during the Comedy Festival a couple of years ago and they filled the Town Hall, that’s 2,000 seats, for three nights. I must say it’s so much more special enjoying them in these more intimate gigs but don’t leave it too long in the run, because word gets out and these small gigs start selling out fast.
POD August Nights in Melbourne has become a bit of a comedy institution and I have attended most of them over the years since they began in 2000 at The Prince Pat. The exciting news for me was that this year, their venue at the New Ballroom at Trades Hall provides guaranteed seating for everyone. It’s still general seating, but no fear of having to stand for 2 hours behind some tall people and missing all the visual fun. Alright I’m getting old, but I don’t remember ever being able to cope with standing gigs, I usually end up perched on a step or even on the floor at some point, uncomfortable and unable to see properly. So woo hoo for seating!
As usual the show included some new stuff, some classics, more recent songs, lots of silly banter, some kick arse covers and their breathtaking harmonies. In the first POD shows back at the Prince Pat, they would cover Neil Diamond who inspired the show’s title. A few years ago at the Spanish Club they did a bracket of covers tributing a different favourite band/performer each night, with Yon dressed in silly costumes. That’s where I first heard their mesmerising version of Radiohead’s Paranoid Android. Actually I had not heard Radiohead’s own version before that either, shameful, I know, but this has now become a staple show stopper for Tripod and opens the second half of their show this year, to much whooping by fans.
The new stuff included about three songs from their much anticipated (since Gatesy mentioned it in his interview with The Squirrel late last year), Dungeons & Dragons the Opera. I must say the songs worried me just a little. Not enough references to Dungeons or Dragons for my liking (well that I as a non player could notice anyway) and honestly, not enough jokes. At one point Gatesy said on opening night “I thought that would get a bigger laugh”. Maybe we have to wait to hear them in context. Other new songs such as ‘We are World Music” with dazzling guitar work and scifi finale & the superbly simple excuse for banter ‘How do I compete with that’, proved more successful. Highlights of the two shows I’ve seen were definitely well honed classics such as ‘Lingering Dad/Theme from MASH’, ‘IKEA’, ‘Mucus’, with it’s mad, muppet moves and ‘Not all of Queen were Gay’. My favourite song of theirs at the moment would have to be Yon’s searing, gentle and gorgeous “I’m not sure that I” Sweet, funny, clever (of course) and slightly sad, it is also a rather powerful reminder of why we’ve just got to look after our planet.
Many fans would have gone away disappointed by the lack of ‘Xbox’ and ‘Hotdog Man’, but I’m sure they will make their appearance at one of the upcoming performances, as they pop in some different fan favourites each night.
Over the years Tripod have enjoyed stretching their considerable musical talent in their songs, with Gatesy gradually joining Scod on guitar, Yon adding his trumpet, which almost began as a bit of a joke and is now a strong part of the show (as an 80s girl I always go a bit weak kneeed for a bit of brass in a band). The most recent addition to the act is sitting on the stage before the show even starts, a piano and it is used sparingly but effectively. I thought the lingering image of this show will be the final song with Yon on trumpet, Gatesy on guitar and Scod at the piano. They are no longer just 3 guys and a guitar they are a musical comedy celebration.
Visit the Bella Union Website to secure tickets for Tripod’s remaining performances (ends on Sunday 30th of August).