Blue King Brown made a grand entrance onto the stage with each band member appearing on stage and breaking into their individual pieces one at a time. Drummer Pete Wilkins entered first, then percussionists Salvador Perisco and Carlos Santone came on next, keyboardist Sam Cope, and then it was time for the three gorgeous female backing vocalists to appear with a cheer from the crowd. Trombonist Emily ‘G’ Mould and trumpeter Nick ‘Dub’ Wilkins entered with splendour and as a final point the bold and beautiful Natalie Pa’apa’a who recognized the traditional owners of our land.

Pa’apa’a danced and pranced across the stage in acknowledgment for a time of peace and also thanked TZU and Natty Sistren. Natalie broke into an energized version of Don’t let go with a clean sense of enthusiasm and vigor by the band.

Natalie didn’t play guitar and the stand in guitarist was a definite strength, he played off with bassist Santone superbly – he had some wild finger plucking moves that demonstrated his expertise with ease.

It is obvious that Blue King Brown are serious about their social conscience but that is not what they are completely about, they are about the music and their music is enormous. They deliver a beautifully well created ensemble of grooves, beats and harmonies with the purpose of sending a message of love and peace. Stand Up generated a warranted involuntary movement amongst the crowd for the reason that it reaches into your hearts and souls rhythmically and wholly.

Each member of the band were stationed separately on the stage but they unified their positioning through their deliberations. Carlos Santone’s maneuvers were extraordinary and complemented the guitarists’ finger-licious moves.

The massive crowd particularly enjoyed Come and Check your Head, a lively melody with a particularly good trumpet and drum solo (which lasted for ten minutes).

The two percussionists were fascinating in their remarkable amalgamated beats; Pete Wilkins played a traditional rock drum kit fast and slow in all the right places whilst percussionist Salvador Perisco played an assortment of percussion instruments. Salvador managed to swap the percussion instruments swiftly and at ease, at one time he had a tambourine in one hand and a stick in the other. They both kept it together with lightning fast moves. On sight of this grand band and especially their percussion, it is disclosed where their magic stems from; their exceptionally pleasurable pulses.

Words by Jullie-Ann Ellis of Fasterlouder.com.au

Photos by Kylie Keene for Fasterlouder.com.au Published in Rave Magazine