The Sydney show was brilliant last weekend – “This was more than just a reunion gig …. left everybody with a massive big smile on their face and an almighty energy kick to the soul” … Dynamic Hepnotics – Factory Theatre – Sydney – 17.6.17 – Reviewed by Coffin Ed – Alternative Media Group.
Any gig mentions on-air, in print or online will still be greatly appreciated for this weekend’s gigs at MEMO. If you and a guest would like to join us as a guest at the show please let me know by Thursday at 5pm. It would be a lovely opportunity to catch up and thank-you for your ongoing support of MEMO Music Hall.
Kind regards,
Trace
THE 30 YEAR WAIT IS OVER!
BACK ON STAGE FOR TWO SHOWS IN MELBOURNE THIS WEEKEND!
The Original
DYNAMIC HEPNOTICS
LAUNCHING THE LIVE ALBUM ON CD WITH BONUS DVD
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBBIE SOUTER (1949-2017)
The Heartbeat Of The Hepnotics
When a reunion of The Dynamic Hepnotics was first suggested earlier this year it appeared that the original 80s lineup would be together on stage again in both Sydney and Melbourne. In recent weeks drummer Robbie Souter became progressively ill, passing away on the 11th May. During his final weeks Robbie was very keen for the reunion shows to go ahead and it’s only fitting that both the Sydney and Melbourne concerts are dedicated to his wonderful legacy as both a great drummer and dear friend.
Melbourne media enquiries – Tracy Routledge – 0412 223 221
MELBOURNE – FRI 23/SAT 24 JUNE – MEMO MUSIC HALL – TIX
Reserve seating at all shows
Check out a great podcast with Continental Robert
and Maynard on Planet Maynard at:
In a historic reunion the original Dynamic Hepnotics are back on stage in both Sydney and Melbourne for a series of genuine soul shakedown parties, recalling the halcyon days of the mid 80s and their chart topping nation wide summer anthem Soul Kinda Of Feeling – a bona fide Australian classic and winner of the APRA award for the most performed Australian song of the year.
Get ready for the gyrating, super soulful front man ‘Continental’ Robert Susz as he’s joined by sax wielding master blaster Bruce Allen, guitar whiz Andrew Silver, bass supremo Alan Britton and Antero Ceschin now on drums.
Celebrating the release on CD of the 1984 Live Album with a bonus of no less than 11 previously unreleased live tracks and a bonus DVD of the Billboard concert, featuring Hepnobeat, Roadrunner, Keep Workin’, Shake Your Hips, Ting-A-Ling and many, many more including the show stopping Soul Kind Of Feeling – this was the soundtrack of a generation when soul, r’n’b and the funky grooves ruled supreme.
With 3RRR’s Johnny Topper at the MC mic in Melbourne and PBS’s Mohair Slim (Melbourne) spinning the tunes, this is an event for the true believers!
Soul Kind Of Feeling, recorded in 1984 by the Dynamic Hepnotics, has become an Australian rock classic and still receives regular airplay across the country today. That’s not surprising because in the glorious days of 1985 the song was the most played on Australian radio, later recognised with an APRA music award for its composer, Hepnotics front man ‘Continental’ Robert Susz. With its distinctive opening riffs and contagious chorus line the song was a summer anthem, embraced by almost every radio station in the country and was inescapable, wherever you went.
But there’s much more to the Dynamic Hepnotics’ story than that one top five song. The late 70s were an exciting time musically in Australia, not only with the growth of the ‘Oz’ rock sound, but with alternative scenes where the musicians often drew their inspiration from American soul and blues. It was out of this roots music community that the Dynamic Hepnotics were born, circa 1979, when Robert Susz gathered together a group of Sydney musicians, for a series of low key bar gigs like the legendary Arthurs in Potts Point.
The music was soul, old school rhythm’n’blues and funky downhome blues – with a range of influences from James Brown to Curtis Mayfield and Slim Harpo. As the covers were mastered the band looked to more and more original material and soon developed what was to be the beginnings of a unique songbook of their own.
These were formative but exhilarating times as the group recruited new personnel and released a number of early EPs and singles, the most noticeable being the classic Hepnobeat, which became an early and much loved signature tune for the band. It even found its way into the hip dance racks of New York record shops where it became a kind of cult item. The band are still waiting for US royalties!
There was more homegrown recording success with the release of the Ross Wilson produced six track EP, Strange Land for Missing Link, a precursor to a signing with Mushroom Records in 1984. By now the lineup was well and truly consolidated with Continental Robert on vocals and harp, Bruce Allen on sax, Andrew Silver on guitar, Alan Britton on bass and Robbie Souter on drums.
“Long before Mayer Hawthorne and Eli Paperboy Reed donned the suits and dropped to their knees, singer and songwriter “Continental” Robert Susz was crying, sighing, testifying and roof-raising across Australia with Dynamic Hepnotics” – Bernard Zuel (Sydney Morning Herald)
