Birds of Tokyo

Fans of Australian contemporary rock group 'Birds of Tokyo' flocked to Brisbane's Arts Centre last night to see the group in action, along with the added benefit of an orchestral accompaniment, their second concert with the QSO. After the successful release of six albums since their inception in 2004, plenty of airplay on Triple J and a string of awards to boot, they have become one of Australia's most popular groups of this kind of genre. Led by popular conductor Nicholas Buc and an orchestral backing consisting of a selection of string, percussion and brass members from the QSO, even a harp, the Concert Hall was soon filled with a plethora of sonorous sounds of rich orchestral arrangements and had the audience bopping along to an augmented aural and visual version of some of the group's favourite songs, undoubtedly an improvement over any 'tweets' (pardon the pun) associated with social media presentations!

The concert also included a few introductions from lead singer Ian Kenny, including some fun interplay with guitarist/vocalist Adam Spark, both with a relaxed somewhat impromptu easy-going approach, adding a little spice to the general presentation. Surprisingly, most of the songs included the orchestra though there was some variety, in particular at the opening of part 2, with the incorporation of a moving and unique collaboration and arrangement using just solo violin and solo guitar as accompaniment.

The orchestral arrangements often had the strings bouncing all over their instruments with funky percussive strokes, poetry in motion, the brass also adding colour and depth to the overall sound; and so with a packed house, contemporary rock being a further addition to live audience's needs these days, it's interesting to see how the traditions of a concert hall are slowly being transformed into a medium suitable for any kind of live 'theatre' as such. Popular song has well changed the industry and it's somewhat ironic, watching the orchestra at work, that a majority of the most successful pop musicians/artists these days, both artistically and financially, can't even read or notate music; or, in some cases, like Elton John for example, can write a hit song in five minutes and require little, if any, vocal training. Sad news for those musicians who have spent half their life learning their trade and are still struggling to pay the mortgage!

In addition to an effective lighting plot throughout, the concert concluded with one of the group's popular hits, a song of hope over despair, 'Lanterns', with the audience waving the lights on their phones in commemoration of a night of appreciation and support.

As part of this impressive tour, their next stop is Tasmania, then Melbourne and then Sydney, all accompanied by each state's orchestra.

Brian Adamson