Sex Death Bowie
Geraldine Quinn
The Rhino Room
Wed 14 March Until Sat 17 March


'Sex Death Bowie': these are a few of Melbourne comedian/singer-songwriter, Geraldine Quinn's favourite things. Pasty faced, sporting a ginger mullet (of sorts, as she also sports a sweeping fringe that one suspects is there to cover up the fact that her eye colours match) and blessed with naturally high cheek bones, it's obvious Quin idolises David Bowie.

Adopting the total rock star-interviewee persona, this wild-eyed wannabe acerbically recounts her desire to make it in the music industry either on her own or by writing for other, more established artists that include Sarah Blasko, Delta Goodrem and Olivia Newton John.

It comes as no surprise that her services are rejected, especially when her material deals with skin cancer, dating pyromaniacs, drunken slutty nights and torch songs for clumsy, non-athletic kids. It seems obvious, therefore, these songs are largely inappropriate for mainstream audiences. Then there's the birthday song she wrote for her ten year old niece; one that initially celebrates turning double figures, then acrimoniously telling of how female life is all downhill from there.

As much Quinn may be parodying chart hits and the trappings of success, with plenty of pretty neat acoustic guitar hooks and an incredible voice range, one wonders what really would happen if she, along with the powers to be really did take her seriously? To close the night, Quinn performed a song that she co-wrote with Sir Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello (only they don't know it yet) entitled, The Veronicas. Pure gold.

Steve Jones