Rhythmology | Tyson Goddard & Backbone
It’s 7pm and I don’t want to be late and as we arrive a few minutes past the hour and do the obligatory check-ins, we see the place is teeming with POC people, the familiar feel of Backbone Youth Arts reeks of that uniquely old ozzy bowlo vibe, but as we enter through the next room, the set slips into a shimmering pink backdrop, fully seated with fabulousness dripping, geometry in the ceiling, warm hues with lighting low, you can feel the vibration from the punters peaking with jittered excitement.
Outside in the DOSA the cast relaxingly chatter and as I breathe in secondhand smoke and expensive perfume, I marvel at the wardrobe stylings as they prepare for show time. I get a sense that things are about to start and my date and I walk in and are ushered to our front row seats. I feel special, and so does my date.
The lights dim, the music stops briefly and the expected first on stage are Aboriginal performers, Father of the House of Alexander Joshua Taliani a proud Aboriginal/Italian man from the Bidjara and Kullali region of central west Queensland alongside Garret Lyon proud Darumbal & Wulli-Wulli man hailing from Rockhampton, Darumbal country who provides a heartfelt acknowledgment of Jagera and Turrbal country on which the show presents. Garret shares that tonight is a celebration of Inclusivity, Culture, Diversity, Language and Art. A premonition fulfilled.
Image + cover image: Joel Devereux
Acts spill out from backstage, side stage and everything strings together in a pace that sets it apart from a simple local production, as lights splay in syncopation, all the group work and solo pieces move in symbiosis, each with their own individualised spin. Costuming relative to the wearer and black and white tones allowing the projections to bounce off their bodies in rhythm to the bass.
Performers Jeanya Rush, Jacob Ropati Sami, Luna Thicc, Crimson Coco, Joshua Taliani, Kaiyah Topia, Levi Grieg, Freya Armani and Garret Lyon are all at their best and the audience are on their feet most of the night, visibly and audibly moved by the offering of each act.
A solo performance revealing a diamante one piece brings Freya Armani to the stage with escort provided by Jacob and Levi, wheeled out on a hotel concierge trolley, Chlöe’s version of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse’s Feeling Good reminisces the audience into a classic drag show delivery of cabaret. Chair props and crawling around on the floor begs cheers from the crowd and it’s evident that Freya is an old hand at showbiz.
My personal favourite, Tevin Campbell’s Can we talk for a minute released in 1993 rings a little louder on the PA than the other tunes, and as soon as the instrumental introduction starts -the crowd are in it, people are singing at the top of their lungs with that collective knowing. Girl I want to know your name….. Garret holds down every melody line just as was on the recording. I remember as kids practicing all of the vocal gymnastics exactly like these R&B artist wrote them, it was a rite of passage to know those songs, filled with love story, sex and negotiating relationships. R&B was sex ed for me and many Pasifika who had prudish parents. My date says, I have never seen so much audience interaction as what’s happening tonight and I explain, ‘babe that’s just how POC go’. Build up my confidence, confidence – Joshua Taliani breaks form from the group and I watch as his body moves freely, expression-filled with the exaggeration repping Tevin’s confidence lyric and the personal struggle each of us face to find ours.
Image: Joel Devereux
Bodies are beautiful when they’re in expression and the body positivity lifts everyone from their seat and you get a sense that the crowd and the audience are the same entity. One cannot exist without the other, and it’s nice to be in a room with people and not have to wear fucken masks. The vibe is supportive and equal. The exchange: Fluid. Staging only a few centimetres higher than where audience sit, enabling egalitarianism for both perspectives. The room is electric with empowerment.
Miss Luna Thicc stands and delivers a beautiful drag performance of a slow and tender Filipino love song. Jacob Ropati Sami steals everyone’s heart with his mona lisa smile and debonair. Crimson Coco and Joshua Taliani’s duet in white get the room slippery and the threesome fallaway from Levi, Joshua and Jacob pays homage to original old school hip hop swagger and the trio turn quartet later with Kaiyah Topia bond together like glue moving effortlessly as one. Kaiyah’s solo, Joshua’s solo…. All of it. Amazing. I sincerely hope we see more seasons of Rhythmology, that is something I could go out and see every Friday night and not get bored.
The night ended on the dance floor in the main bar with a DJ providing R&B beats until close. Rhythmology members coming and joining us. It felt like I was up on stage with them. I felt in my sexuality, I felt in my skin, I felt certain and in sync with my people. Thankyou to all the members of this amazing cast, Creative Director Ty Goddard, Thicc Shake crew, the members from House of Alexander for a beautifully sensual night. More please.
