Playing HQ Adelaide -Sunday 30 June 2019
Australia loves THE TEA PARTY and the Canadian iconic rockers are heading back to Australia and bringing their genre-defying career to selected intimate venues across Australia this June.
The Tea Party formed in 1990 with the current line up in Jeff Martin, Stuart Chatwood and Jeff Burrows, all being the original members. They recorded their eponymous debut album on their own label Eternal Discs in 1991. They were picked up in 1993 by EMI Canada and soon after released their first major label album, Splendor Solis. Thanks to Triple J giving the song Save Mehigh rotation, the band were touring Australia in 1994. Australia was the first country outside Canada to pick up on the band and they have toured here regularly since.
The great thing about the band is their support for Adelaide, as is Adelaide’s support for the band. In 1994 The Tea Party played The Venue, Hindley St, but unfortunately at this stage I was yet to become a fan. My introduction to the band came via a mate who gave me a cassette with the bands first two albums on it in 1995. I played the tape a few times but still didn’t quite “get it”.
In 1996 the band played the Adelaide Fringe. Yes, you read correctly, the Adelaide Fringe and said mate dragged me along. My review at the time said “It was Middle Eastern, Led Zeppelin heavy rock. Jeff Martin played instruments I had never seen before and I have no idea how to pronounce their name. Every song he seemed to have a new instrument to play. AND he looked as a rock god should, a cross between Robert Plant and Jim Morrison. Then there is THAT voice”.
I was hooked.
They next played Thebarton Theatre August 1997 in support of the Transmission album, to a sellout crowd. This time it was a lot more electric guitar from Jeff Martin although a few of those eastern instruments still crept into the set. Simply amazing.
Two years later they were back at Thebby for another sold out gig, this time promoting the TRIPtych album. Another year, another great concert.
2002 saw the band join the Big Day Out circus and playing at the ridiculous hour of 4pm in broad daylight. It was that and the fact they only had a 45-minute set that it is not one of the gig’s that I best remember. They are Princes of Darkness and should not be seen playing in daylight.
In 2004 the band played at the Adelaide Uni grounds in support of the Seven Circlesalbum. While this was still a good show, it didn’t live up to previous concerts I had seen. In hindsight, apparently the band were beginning to “fall apart” and this may have reflected in their live shows. Or maybe they just didn’t have their usual great show for once.
The band split in 2005 although Jeff Burrows always maintained the band were just taking an extended break.
Jeff Martin continued his love with Australia, playing sometimes twice a year solo in Adelaide or with his bands, The Amardaand 777. Jive was the preferred venue but he also played HQ (with the Toronto Tabla Ensemble) and Grace Emily (once with Sarah McLeod from The Superjesus). Every show was intimate and personal.
By 2011, the rift had healed and The Tea Party headed back out on the road and in 2012 they were back in Adelaide at Thebarton Theatre performing their magic all over again with the Reformation Tour.
A new album, The Ocean at the Endcame out in 2014 and with it another visit to Thebarton Theatre. While it was great to hear the old classic songs again, it was also nice to have some new material to listen to.
The Gov was the venue for the 2015 Adelaide visit and it was really enjoyable to see the band in a more intimate, but rather packed, venue.
To celebrate 20 years since the release of the Transmissionalbum, the band played the album in full in 2017. I rated this as Concert of the Year for 2017. Yes, it was that good.
While the band may seem to revolve around Jeff Martin, Stuart Chatswood has been heavily involved with creating soundtracks to Videogames, namely the Prince of Persia games. He was also in the short list for bass player for Smashing Pumpkins when The Tea Party were in hiatus. Stuart and Tea Party drummer Jeff Burrows are also involved in a project called Art Decay. Check out the wonderful version of Nick Cave’s Stranger Than Kindnesshere; https://soundcloud.com/royalpeculiar/stranger-than-kindness
The Tea Party are back on Sunday 30thJune at HQ with The Black River Tour. If you have never seen them, go, as that man in the hat always said, do yourself a favour and experience the wonder that is The Tea Party.
You won’t be disappointed.
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