Ash Grunwald Live Music Review
Ash Grunwald is Live and Off the Hook @ Lizotte’s Dee Why
Music Review by Brett Turner
Having never seen funk/soul/blues new poster boy perform live I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when I rocked up to Lizotte’s in Dee Why one warm night during December’s festive season.
I was aware of the type of venue’s he was known to play, those fitting to his style – your outdoor blues and roots, barefoot type a venues, the ones you always seem to find yourself wandering around in on a warm summer's day, shirt off, slightly inebriated and a little discombobulated but generally grateful for the opportunity to capitalize on the spirit of the whole vibe.
I had been to this particular venue several times before and knew that it had the potential to bring out that little something extra in performers that somehow seems to escape them at any other gig. I’m not sure if it’s the intimate setting, the dim lighting or the generous servings of alcohol or perhaps a combination of all three but whenever I have seen a gig there the performers have always just seemed to be extremely relaxed and happy to simply be jamming in front of a bunch of people who are content to chill out and be entertained. This night was to be of no exception.
With beer in hand Ash took to the stage and nestled himself quite complacently at the head of his little set up with a comfortable glance around the room and a smile across his face. After a quick sound check he greeted the crowd with, ‘s’what d’you think of the beard? It’s not long enough! I’ve got a festival tomorrow [The Pyramid Rock Festival] and I’ve got a very short time to shave it. I was looking in the mirror just before and I was like, nup! Probably not’.
It was clear he was suffering from the same shaving off your beard anxiety that we all get when faced with that perplexed decision to rid yourself of that which you have endured so much for in order to achieve.
‘Walking’ Featured in Hollywood Blockbuster ‘Limitless’
The whole gig was filled with light hearted, entertaining antic notes and plain and simple good hearty music.
Playing some of his own hits like, ‘Walking’, the song featured on the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Limitless’ and a string of classics from the likes of Howling Wolf and other greats, Grunwald proved why so much attention has been shifted his way recently and illustrated how and why it will continue.
Ash Grunwald truly is a talented and charismatic performer and seeing him in the light cast by Lizotte’s in Dee Why was really something to remember. It was clear that he was comfortable and happy in the moment as it shined through in his performance which really can only be described as off the hook.
