Live Review: Do Re Mi

This show was not for casual observers and there didn’t seem to be any here for this revamped version of Do Re Mi. 

Eternally, ridiculously talented, Deborah Conway was still front and centre with the majestically funky Helen Carter holding solid on the one, and they cannot be defined. They are punk, post and pop, with a funk undercurrent. They are the precursors to jangly '90s guitar with a soaring ballad in their back pockets. They are political and sing about love, all the loves, but it isn’t disjointed. There is an undercurrent through it that weaves all the seemingly eclectic strands together and it refuses to be caught long enough to be named – but whatever label you need to put on it for yourself, it’s undeniably good. 

With extraordinarily talented new recruits Julia Day, Clio Renner and Bridie O’Brien on board, Conway and Carter have assembled a very tight five-piece version of Do Re Mi and are looking like they’re having fun above all else.

It’s been close enough to 35 years since their first LP, 1985's Domestic Harmony. You could be forgiven for forgetting just how straight-up good that first collection of songs are. Punchy and with energy to burn, Idiot Grin and The Theme From Jungle Jim got us through the shock, two songs in, of being treated to The Waiting Room 1983 EP alternate version of Man Overboard. It was a scary moment. The earlier version is almost a pop song. It has, dare it be said, a ska vibe. It’s not bad in the least, it’s only that we’re expecting the version and there is some alarm in the room at the prospect of this being the only version played tonight.

But then, Warnings Moving Clockwise. So bleak. So strong. So 1985. So. Good. Conway seemed genuinely surprised that this audience is practically lyric-perfect. How could they not be? This is their crowd. These people are their people.

Into Adultery, into Man Overboard (“proper”), into Haunt You. That would’ve been enough. Happy faces and full spirits. But they did an encore and pulled out That Hanging Business and the sublime Happiest Place In Town. And it really was. A room full of smiles and tired voices at the happiest place in town, for that Friday night at least.