Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Vaudeville Smash, Vaudeville Smash Records 2021.
Vaudeville Smash are a band of brothers in many senses.
They’ve been part of the Melbourne music scene for many years and came to prominence for their song celebrating the exploits of French soccer superstar Zinedine Zidane.
That song has amassed over 13 million YouTube views and was named by Billboard as one of the ten unofficial World Cup anthems in 2014.
The band is really a family affair with a line-up consisting of brothers Marc Lucchesi on vocals, sax and flute, Dan Lucchesi on drums and vocals, Luca Lucchesi on bass and vocals, and their mates Martin Lubran on guitar and James Bowers on keyboards.
Vaudeville Smash play funk inspired disco pop that is dance friendly; it’s a retro sound but they are masters of the groove.
And to be honest it’s an absolute pleasure to hear something that is so unashamedly funky and giving a nod to the great music of the seventies.
And I’m obviously not alone in loving what they do for their gigs are invariably sold out and they have a substantial international following.
They’ve toured Japan, played the South by Southwest conference in Texas and graced stages in New York, Canada, Singapore, Spain and Italy.
They might draw inspiration from retro funk and disco but they are not a tribute band.
This album is full of inventive music that makes it as up to date as anything that’s currently gracing the airwaves.
There are bits of rap and hip-hop and snatches of rock, all to an infectious beat and plenty of humour.
In many ways I was reminded of the work of one of the greatest experimental musicians of all time, the late great Frank Zappa.
I know this is high praise but have a listen to this album.
It’s as if the boys have tapped into Zappa’s brilliant funk masterpiece Sheik Yerbouti.
It’s very hard to listen to this album without smiling.
It’s obvious that the lads were having a ball and I really hope that The Neverending Glory brings them to the attention of the mainstream music press.
Let’s get the word out.
