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Wax Mannequin Exeter Hotel, Fri 20 August There are times in life where things simply fall into place. No sooner had I discovered just how good Canadian Wax Mannequin's 'The Price' album is, but a quick visit to his website proved fortuitous. The man behind one of the year's best - and most unexpected - rock opuses was playing the following night. In Adelaide. In a beer garden. With minimal press or advertising it was always going to be a case of preaching to the unconverted, and all eyes were on the Wax Man from the moment he took the stage, resplendent in blonde mullet wig, red top and leather pants. With just his guitar and drum machine, he opened the first of two sets with some of his big guns. The crunching Tell The Doctor built to its climax as hoped, and Bleed, Jimmy upped the tempo with Wax capably handling the absent synthesiser lines through a combination of guitar and vocals. Message From The Queen made a welcome appearance, and the anthem-in-waiting that is R&R WND (that's Rock and Roll Will Never Die for the uninitiated) with its all-too-true assertion that "the Rock is getting harder / and Roll will save your soul from Heck," sent a shiver up the spine. As with the first set, the second was book-ended by the keyboard-based Chance to Dance blasting through the PA, Wax Mannequin joining on guitar and inciting the gathered to join the fun. Kicking of with The Price - a song that gets better every listen - he also gave us a superb version of Fuck Up The Night, a power-ballad like no other. Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is was a surprise in the set, and the Wax Man's unique take on the song was a highlight, easily up there with his own high-quality catalogue. He closed the night with another run-through of Tell The Doctor and then, sadly, it was over. It was a night to remember - and one that will live in the hearts of those present for a long time. Wax Mannequin is hoping to return to Australia in the near future - with full band, no less - and if you care at all about Rock & Roll you have no choice but to be there.  |
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