Nat Allison Band

The absolutely gorgeous Nat Allison has, in my mind, a lot more going for her than just a visually magnetic stage presence. She has a crystal clear voice to die for, one of the most amazing and dynamic drummers I have ever seen in Dayne Lawless, the best guitarist a girl could ask for in the legendary Josie Jason, and one helluva spectacular Gibson ES something or other. You thought Suzi Quatro had a big bass, well wait until you see Nat and that stunning gold glitter machine.

Nat’s music harks back to the golden years of Sweet heavy rock (no, not Ballroom Blitz, Blockbuster et al – more like the album stuff you’ve probably never heard), mixed with a modern take on the type of material Josie used to do with the Argonauts. It’s no surprise we can hear a touch of Sweet in there, as I believe Mike Chapman (Blondie, The Knack, Sweet, Baby Animals) helped write some of the material.

Unfortunately, Australian pub crowds are yet to lock onto Nat’s show, although this is no surprise to me as I am constantly astounded at the strange choices we Aussies make about our music. Perhaps I am just living in the classic rock era, but I’ll just never understand how shoe-gazing, discordant, barely coherent, talent-lacking noise-merchants can command large crowds, record labels and a place in the charts of today, when quality abounds elsewhere. I just hope the continued return of true rock takes Nat along for the ride – Josie missed out the first time, so it would be fitting if that travesty was reversed this year.

But enough of the ranting – Check out the Nat Allison Band (minus Dayne for this one) supporting the Screaming Jets at the Chelsea Heights Hotel in July 2007.