Listening to the excited charm of Greek folk music, while sitting in the lush high-ceiling surrounds of the Melbourne Recital Centre, is like being fed red cordial and being told to sit still.
For those of you who may never have heard Greek folk music without the ambient sounds of plates being cleared, cigarettes being lit, and arguments over the future of the Labor party, rest assured: it stacks up.
Such was the experience of many in the audience in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall for the double-bill of Melbourne-based Greek blues group, Rebetiki and the Xylouris Ensemble, led by Cretan lauto player Giorgos Xylouris.
During Rebetiki’s opening one-hour set, at least four spontaneous clap-alongs were started, only to be beaten by the symphonic seriousness of the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.
It was an hour of lilting, shoulder-bopping tunes, full of unexpectedly satisfying progressions and simple, effective harmonies.
The lighter sounds of Argyris Argyropoulos on the bagalama were grounded by Tony Iliou on the acoustic guitar, while the two bouzoukis (played by Achillles Yiangoulli and Takis Dimitriu) kept the tunes whirling along.
Rebetiki are just very, very good.
The relaxed banter in between the songs also helped to locate the music in a political context.
Introducing one song by Yiorgos Batis, the group’s narrator Argyris Argyropoulos explained Batis’ history of dealing with “improvised dental products,” and his unwillingness to give into censorship days of the 1930s.
“The censorship days are over, and we don’t have much of a government here at the moment,” he told the crowd.
For those of you who may never have heard Greek folk music without the ambient sounds of plates being cleared, cigarettes being lit, and arguments over the future of the Labor party, rest assured: it stacks up.
When the much-anticipated Xylouris Ensemble hit the stage, the audience were transported from a smoky tavern to a Cretan cliff.
Giorgos Xylouris is a Greek music heavyweight who plays mad licks on the lauto.
With his commanding stage presence, creative approach and curly hair, Xylouris is the Bob Dylan of Greek music.
The 10-member ensemble, largely made up of members of the Xylouris and Hannan families, began with an improvisational piece inspired by the church bells of St Minnas.
There was a mix of original songs and new arrangements, with a range of instruments and sounds ranging from bright and bouncing to haunting and moody.
For all the vibrancy of a cross-generational band, incorporating vocals, the lauto, cello, flute and several other instruments, the Xylouris Ensemble maintained a mesmerising stillness.
It was unrelentingly skilled and symphonic, making sense of the sombre venue’s high ceilings.
ABC Radio National’s Music Deli program will feature the concert on Friday September 24, with a repeat on Sunday September 26 at 4.05pm.