It's late and the bartender has announced last call. Tonight wasfantastic, as a number of singers graced the stage to stand in thespotlight, whether it was an ex junkie, a rich hick with a spookybeard, an overemotional freaky chick, or a cute male/female duo whoharmonize beautifully well. The parade of stars has come and gone. Thecrowd has been reduced to the small number of staff and a couple otherswho similarly are just trying to let the world stop spinning. On stage,the trio that sat in the back are still playing quietly. A triangularsymmetry is met by the lonely violinist, shuffling drummer andreflective guitarist. Only now does it make sense that while thesefolks can back up a variety of egos, their knowledge of, attraction to,and attention in which they pay each other is truly remarkable. WarrenEllis, Mick Turner, and Jim White have been playing as Dirty Three foryears, and with each album, it seems their bond grows stronger. Whetherit's with the driving force of "She Has No Strings," the quiet pianoand malleted-drums of "Long Way to Go with No Punch," or the pluckedviolins on "No Stranger Than That," they demonstrate that like anygreat ensemble, there is never one member who is more or less importantthan the other. Sure, they take turns leading the group here and there,like the unexpected fuzz guitar on "Rude (and then some slightreturn)," the mad drum solo on "No Sister Let Them Try and Follow," andthe multiple-layered violins on "She Lifted the Net." Dirty Three areone of the most reliably consistent bands and I have never been letdown by any of their records. Furthermore, it's always an extra specialtreat to see any of them live together, alone, or with others, and I'mhappy that it seems like they're always on the road in some band oranother.Read More
