Mama Rosin/ Bellowhead, Norwich Open, Friday 9th November 2012Such is the anticipation inNorwich’s newest venue for the ever-popular Bellowhead that a huge crowd isalready in place at 8 sharp to greet support act Mama Rosin. They’re scheduledfor a short and sweet thirty minute slot, but the Swiss three piece set aboutcramming it with so many songs, styles and different instruments that it fastturns into a mini-showcase for their growing talents. Surrounded by Bellowhead’s kit ona large stage and not helped greatly by the muddy sound, they are definitely upagainst it; but they weave deft touches of reggae, calypso, Orleans jazz, surfand psychedelic blues into their bedrock punked-up zydeco with passion andvigour, to the increasing delight of an otherwise partisan crowd. The moreCajun they get the more convincing they are, the champagne moment coming whenthe guitarist channels the late great Rockin’ Dopsie by switching his axe for awashboard and back mid-song without breaking his stride. There’s a warm glowonstage and off when the audience sends them away with hearty and prolongedapplause, genuinely wanting more.
Their virtuosity notwithstanding,it’s the drama of Bellowhead that makes them really stand out among theirpeers. The huge ensemble lurks semi-obscured in a misty wash of purple or otherautumnal hue, casting them as a crowd of operatic ragamuffins waiting to kickoff; while enigmatic frontman Jon Boden is picked out sharply under the spot asless singer and more mob provocateur-come-Mephistophelian MC.
For 'Byker Hill' they are shroudedin thick fog and the effect is close to chilling. Eschewing more establishedattempts to modernise traditional material with electrification they remain anacoustic force of nature, core band to the centre while banks of strings to theright of them, brass to the left of them, volley and thunder. In consequenceeven the inevitable jigs and reels take on a symphonic air, carrying them far beyondtheir original compositions. They don’t try to be a rock band, much less a punkband or modern dance outfit; leaning more musically and stylistically towardsGilbert and Sullivan, Brecht/Weill and burlesque, they taketheir genre into previously unthinkable directions. Old habits die hard though,and they still seem compelled to introduce each song by spelling out its storyin the manner of the (folk) club singer; but even for non-folkies like myselfthis is compelling stuff, artistically triumphant, and worthy of much respect.www.facebook.com/Mama-Rosinwww.bellowhead.co.ukNeil B.
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