Pete Murray, August 14th At The Forum Theatre
August 16, 2008 | Filed under Media
There’s something about Pete Murray’s music – there’s only one situation where listening to it live showcases the music the way it was designed to be enjoyed. It has to be a sunny day with blue skies, without the slightest whisper of wind. You’re on a picnic blanket on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the Royal Botanic Gardens with your lover feeding you grapes. You’re lying back in his arms, the sun warming your face, and Pete Murray’s voice rolling over you in waves as he plays his Jack Johnson-esque brand of bluegrassy soft rock on a low stage in front of you.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the way his concert was shaped last night at the Forum Theatre here in Melbourne. As a venue, I love the Forum. The design of the inside of the theatre (that neo-classical Hellenic style) is breathtaking, and the way the ceiling is lit to imitate a starry midnight blue sky never fails to impress me. As a comedy show venue, as a rock show venue, it’s amazing. There’s no competition. As a bluegrassy soft rock show however, it lacks a certain oomph and that’s where I think Pete Murray failed last night.
His music was amazing, there’s no question about that. There’s just something about his voice that makes me melt like butter. It’s laconic, it’s a drawl, it’s a low rumble, it’s as smooth as caramel, it’s simply quintessentially Australian. His music is easy on the ears, whispering soft words of love and evoking a long-ago memory of dancing barefoot in the kitchen with a loved one. It’s like that big soft jumper that you can’t bear to throw out, because it’s so close to you that it’s almost like a security blanket. You could fall asleep to the sound of his music.
Wait, you know what? That was the problem. His music makes you want to lie back, close your eyes, and daydream. Last night at the Forum, there was a whole row of girls who had retreated to the back of the theatre and who were all sitting on a low step. We all had our eyes closed, our legs stretched out, our bodies moving slightly to the music, trying in vain to capture that special moment of lying on a picnic blanket in summer with the sun shining on our faces. It’s hard to achieve this in a dark theatre designed in a neo-classical style.
A outdoors music festival in summer. Pete, that’s what you need to focus on, not this attempt to make yourself seem more rock than you really are.
One Response to Pete Murray, August 14th At The Forum Theatre
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I don’t know who he is, but judging on your description, I think I’d like his music.
And from the looks of that picture, he looks kinda hot.
Rafia on August 16, 2008 #