Cat Empire gets purr-fect review

Cat Empire

THE Cat Empire impressed the packed Beach Hotel at Byron Bay last Thursday night with a repertoire of songs from their new album, Cinema (EMI, released June 25). It is their fourth studio album.

The tribe of six showed off their incredible musicianship to the excited fans with pumping world beats, jazz keyboard solos, mind-blowing brass melodies and soaring vocals from both frontmen Harry Angus and Felix Riebl. The technical ability of the group has really been brought out in the songwriting of Cinema, pleasing the critics no doubt.

Harry particularly showed off his vocal range and scat ability, at one point scatting very difficult rhythms in time with the backing band, creating an uproar of cheers from the crowd. Ollie McGill, on Keys, astoundingly played with a sprained wrist, proving just how dedicated to the music the band is.

The live show was one of more than 750 that the Cat Empire have played in their career, and with more than half a million album sales and a healthy International following, the band is set to reach their 800th live show somewhere in Europe in October. The band will then tour Japan in November.

The support act of the night was the flamboyant Clairy Baby Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes. Clairy put on quite a show, with 50's feel soul crossed with Amy Winehouse-style vocals. The 4 girls (Clairy on lead vocals and 3 backup singers) grooved and sung perfect harmonies in their gold glitter dresses and head pieces, busting some seriously dirty doo-wop.

The Cat Empire kicked off their set with ‘Falling’, the current single on Triple J, and pleased the audience with some old classics among the Cinema tunes as well. There was a real energy in the sold-out venue – a big success for the Beach Hotel, and proof that the Cat Empire will be shining for some time to come.