If anyone asks what a “Rock God” looks like, show them a photo of Jeff Martin. Lead singer/guitarist/ songwriter for one of the most underrated bands ever, The Tea Party, Jeff has it all, the looks, the voice and talent on guitar. Jeff often visits our fair city in solo mode as well, always putting on a magnificent show, but nothing prepared me for Jeff Martin playing The Songs of David Bowie. In fact, I had serious reservations about going to see this show, I just couldn’t imagine Jeff Martin doing David Bowie songs.
Support came from Tasmanian singer-songwriter, Bully Hay. No coincidence here as Jeff Martin helped produce and record Bully’s latest single Wash Off the World as well as his upcoming album. With only Bully on stage, the casual guitar intro sounded a bit like The Tea Party’s Winter Solstice before weaving into I Can Be Your Lover. The thing that stood out from the start was the voice, so powerful and yet melodic. Up next was a “song you have heard before, but not like this” and he was right as he performed a beautiful version of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill.
A smile on his face, he told us, “You’re not here to see me, but I’m here to see him too”. The single Bushfire Moon, was simply glorious, although he did say “who would have thought I would travel into Country and Western. Wherever the music takes me I guess”. The song is completely stripped back with only a single guitar instead of a full band on the released single. Bully wove his way through his upcoming debut album including a laid-back Breathing Out. Jeff Martin came on stage for the closing two songs, playing guitar alongside Bully’s ukulele for Black Dogs and Songbirds and the closing song Wash off the World.
Let’s hope he is back soon with his full band. A superb talent not to be missed. Bully has a debut album out at the end of the month, produced by Jeff Martin. Make sure you have a listen or better still purchase a copy. There were copies for sale at the gig and yes, I did buy the album.
Jeff Martin meandered on stage to a few cries of Happy Birthday, having celebrated this a few days before and with a humble thanks, seated himself on the stool at the front of the stage. Jeff commenced by telling how this show came about. The Tea Party had played some massive shows in the previous months and his manager suggested a solo tour with a difference, doing the songs of David Bowie, as Bowie had been an influence his whole life.
Space Oddity started the evening and Jeff didn’t try to emulate the voice of Bowie, Jeff just sang as Jeff does, playing guitar, as Jeff does and it worked a treat. A “deep cut from Aladdin Sane album” came next, along with the story of Jeff and his friends crossing a bridge to take them from Windsor, Canada to Detroit to catch concerts and always playing Panic in Detroit when they crossed the bridge to get themselves ready for the fun they will have in Detroit. Half way through the song Jeff lost his guitar pick, so a bit of improvisation came out until another pick appeared on stage.
Jeff can talk and tell stories. He is a master at the art of talking. A story preceded each track of the evening, a story of how the song reflects on his life or in some cases, just a story about Bowie. The Rebel Rebel story was how Bowies was trying to sleep one evening in a hotel, when he heard someone trying to play one of his riffs on a guitar, badly. Going up to the room the door was opened by tennis legend John McEnroe. During the song Jeff told us to sing along, and we did.
Life on Mars Jeff made his own. His deep voice, often changing range, was suited perfectly to the song. For the first set closer, Jeff bought Drew Castles, Bully Hay’s drummer and percussionist (and merch desk minder) out on stage to play delicate percussion on Wild is the Wing, a song introduced to Jeff by his wife Melissa when they were “first together, hmmm”. The song became their wedding song as well. It was played very low key, but very effectively, guitar, percussion and voice filling the room.
“Back to 1983 and I was twelve years old” started Jeff in the second set. “I was watching videos on the new video TV stations and this one scared me. And it was an old video from 1972” he told us, easing into the song Ziggy Stardust.
Another video Jeff stayed up late to watch in 1983, also “scared the shit out of me” was Ashes to Ashes. An interesting interpretation of the song ensured. Played on an acoustic guitar it probably didn’t really work that well, but Jeff knows no fear and will attempt anything.
Yet another video watching story of a twelve-year-old Jeff, was about the song China Girl. He stayed up late “because they were going to show the uncut version of the video clip”.
Starman was played with “Tea Party” tuning and while at the beginning it was obviously the Tea Party sound, it soon became Bowie’s Starman. “I also have a tuning called Baghdad” Jeff laughed, “but we won’t go there now”.
Andrew Castles came out again for the set closer Golden Years, again filling out the song wonderfully. The song meandered into Fashion for a short while, before out of the blue came a couple choruses of The Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil. Totally unexpected, totally brilliant.
Jeff finished the night with an encore of Let’s Dance complete with a heavy drum beat backing the song. Jeff left the stage with a promise he would be back next year.
While this evening is not concert of the year material, it will certainly be close to the most enjoyable musical evening of the year. Simply wonderful.
Live Review By Geoff Jenke