Loyal fans brave rain for Matt Bianco concert
Loyal fans brave rain for Matt Bianco concert
By Dini S. Djalal
JAKARTA (JP): "I love Matt Bianco," said 17 year-old Desi,
"He's so cute."
Thirty-year-old Tom standing next to Desi sighed hopelessly.
"What a dumb teenybopper. The singer's name is Mark Reilly, not
Matt Bianco," Tom said as he wiped the pouring rain off his face.
And so two worlds collided at the Matt Bianco concert last
Thursday night. Hundreds of loyal fans, young and old, flocked to
the Senayan Stadium's outdoor stage to see the 10-year-old
British band's first performance in Indonesia.
For some, it was the chance of a lifetime.
"I've been a fan for 10 years, but I've never seen them in
concert," said Tom, a visiting jazz musician from California.
Did the concert live up to his expectations?
"The sound could be better, and they could have played more of
the older songs. And the rain definitely did not help. Why have
an outdoor concert during the rainy season?" he asked.
The downpour, however, had little effect on the crowd's
buoyant mood. A few perfectly-coiffed beauty queens complained of
their smudged make-up, but otherwise the audience was among the
most lively Jakarta has ever seen - thanks to the band's rousing
performance.
Jazz-Swing
When Matt Bianco debuted on the U.K.'s pop charts in 1985 with
the catchy Get Out Your Lazy Bed, the British media was quick to
pigeonhole the trio. The "Jazz-swing" fad had their 15 minutes of
fame, and so did the artists tagged under this category: Sade,
Everything but the Girl, Swing Out Sister, and Matt Bianco. Years
later, these artists either maintained their popularity, evolved
into another genre (most likely non-retro pop), or vanished into
where-are-they-now territory. In some circles, Matt Bianco was
regarded as a has-been, following the departure of their female
singer Basia.
In actuality, Matt Bianco did not disappear, they just
modified their sound. "Matt Bianco is a mixture of different
things, and jazz is only one of the things that we like," lead
singer Mark Reilly told The Jakarta Post. Keyboardist and co-
songwriter Mark Fischer adds, "We're more up-tempo now, but it's
not a conscious decision."
The more up-tempo sound, however, was less popular than their
jazz-swing tunes. This did little to put the band off. "We've
never wanted to follow up a hit single with more of the same. Our
main priority is not making hits, but enjoying ourselves,"
Fischer said.
Aware of the fickle tastes of English audiences, Matt Bianco
also found new audiences, touring Italy and Spain. It's there,
soothed by the warm winds of the Mediterranean, that the tropical
flavors of Matt Bianco's music found a home.
These tropical flavors explains their popularity in Indonesia.
When the band played their old hit More than I can bear, the
entire audience sang along every word. "I've wanted to see them
live for such a long time," said 28-year-old Irna, "I can't
believe that they're finally here in Jakarta."
For Matt Bianco, however, their popularity came as a surprise.
"Matt Bianco is popular here? Sounds good to us. This concert was
organized by our promoter, so we really don't know how well we're
doing," said Mark Reilly. They were still surprised after the
concert. "We didn't know what to expect but it was a really good
crowd," said Mark Fischer. "We didn't even know if we had sold
any records!" he added.
Up-tempo
Record sales look set to soar. Most concerts in Indonesia are
characterized by a passive audience, but Matt Bianco was called
back for a double encore of Lost in You, their latest single of
their newest album Gran Via. The encore was well-deserved, as
their sunny and up-tempo melodies got even the most glum faces
smiling and swaying. Hits like Good times, Don't Blame it on the
Girl, and Dancing on the Street were played with great aplomb,
and greeted with teeny-bopper screaming and loud applause. When
Mark Reilly announced, "We've come to our last song of the
night," the crowd booed loudly.
In fact, without the rain, it would have been a perfect summer
fiesta. Rich sounds, infectious beats, great band camaraderie,
and a beaming front man, made for ideal concert ingredients. Mark
Reilly's voice is nothing to write home about, but he puts a lot
of attitude into his performance. When he joined the back-up
singers in a sensual lambada dance during Lost in You, the crowd
went wild.
That Reilly did not dominate the stage proves that Matt Bianco
is an exceptionally tight band, not a one-man show. The show's
most memorable moment came during an incredible drum solo with
the two percussionists, Tony Mason and Mark Jones. Trumpeter Lou
Yates and saxophonist Chris Mulberry also played brilliantly.
Yates' trumpet can be both melancholic, like it did for More than
I can bear, or let rip like a calypso party.
More discerning fans, however, expected more.
"I waited throughout the entire concert for that trumpet solo
(during More than I can bear)," said Choki, also a trumpeter. "I
was so disappointed that they not only shortened the solo, but
changed it completely!" he said. Other fans complained about the
bad sound. "Sometimes, for Indonesian concerts, these promoters
neglect the quality of the sound system," said Liang, a graphic
designer. "It may be the responsibility of the promoter, but the
artists can object if they really want to," she added.