Live Review

The Spaghetti Western Orchestra – Liverpool Empire Theatre

• 8th Mar 2012

The Liverpool Empire was the host on a dark midweek night for the most fabulous Spaghetti Western Orchestra. A quiet & weird atmosphere ensues as the very mixed (the young, the old and the ugly) type of crowd take their seats. The subdued atmosphere at the start was mainly down to the fact people did not know what to fully expect from the live antics of the Spaghetti Western orchestra. Most there will have thoroughly enjoyed the appearance of the set up on Jools Holland with whispers from the crowd ‘I’ve seen these on TV and really wanted to come see them’.

This Australian outfit seek to recreate the wonderful songs from the great film composer Ennio Morricone who scored many of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western classics. The band started the buzz when premiering in 2007 at The Montreal Jazz Festival. They have since gone on to win wide accolades for their clever musicianship and inventive use of everyday objects.

Tonight they failed to disappoint as the crowd were treated to a reminiscing, light hearted look at some of the back drop sounds of movies such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, A Few More Dollars, Once Upon A Time in The West amongst others. The set was broken into roughly two 45 minute parts.

Throughout Patrick Cronin (The Storyteller) managed to keep the flow of the performance with wise cracks from the films, he directed the audience and cleverly linked the band together. However each member played their role well ‘The Bankteller’ Graeme Leek was also very impressive on percussion and especially on The Theremin. Jess Ciampa (The Lieteller) was fabulous on The Vibraphone with Shannon Birchall as The ‘Youngfeller’ keeping the heartbeat with the double bass and equally impressive on the small child’s shoe crushing a small box of cornflakes. Yes you read that correctly!

Boris Conley who plays The Gold Schmeller has the most prominent of looks which stood out in the Jools Holland performances. Tonight he wowed on the Pipe Organ and Bassoon amongst many others. In between the songs there was some attempt at plot but the show didn’t really need a plot and so the comedic references and small amount of banter worked well to weave in between the show.

Overall the Spaghetti Western Orchestra brought something totally different to the usual mundane type of musical/theatre performances it was like going to see a great band but feeling like you were part of a film. Clearly the performers are totally obsessed with Leone’s movies but that added to every nook and cranny of sound of the films being explored in such a special way. Rubber gloves and the beating of a cabbage were definitely a highlight.

It also seemed like a reminisce for some of the crowd back to their youth of watching the films but then a curious look into the inventiveness for the younger members of the audience.

In the end a rousing rendition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly joined by the audience brought the show to an intriguing end.

There is a great affection for the Spaghetti Western Orchestra and they clearly have worked hard on the idea – even on leaving the theatre the band were straight outside signing copies of their CD.

One of the most enthralling and inventive acts seen for a long time. Thoroughly enjoyable!

By the way has anyone seen Bob Robertson?