Indeed, the whole night was quite an experience for the senses. Being on the main stage of the arts center was an experience in itself.The night started off with the Indonesian Kuda Lumping trance performance, which we chanced upon (and stayed all the way through).
At first it was quite straight laced, with the band playing their mostly ancient instruments very well coupled with some male and female vocals.
After that, there was what seemed to be an opening ceremony in Indonesian with joss sticks being burned and prayers being recited.
Once complete the interpretative dancing began , it's goal (with the aid of the music and incense I guess) was to put the performer into a trance like state where they could be inhabited by their ancestors or alter their state of consciousness.
The costumes, props, make up and lights helped keep the crowd mesmerized.
As the performance progressed, the act became more frenzied with feats of strength / endurance and the like began being performed (as seen in some of Aussie Byrd Brothers pics) interspersed between the dancing either in character or with .
Razor blades were consumed, coupled with hot chilies, fluorescent tubes and joss sticks (not necessarily in that order ;),
Boards and bricks were broken using different limbs and broken glass was walked and rolled over all with seemingly little or no harm being done to the performer.
Care was taken that none of the audience could be harmed while the people were in their trance with members of the team being ready to guide them back to the arena, or release them from their altered state of consciousnesses if needed.
At the end of the night they brought out food and welcomed the audience to feast with them upon some prop horses.
After the break, we were treated to the great Manuel Göttsching.
A perfect gentlemen and musician. He appeared to be relishing his time with his fans down under.
It was wonderful to see him layer the keys and guitars up close.
He was able to get such a beautiful tone out his Gibson and it was very interesting to see him using a what appeared to be a block of metal to distort the pickups.
A fantastic performance. I wish I had the cash to see him on the Saturday as well when he performed as part of the Legendary Ashra Temple.
P.S. Pitty you missed it Tom Ozric.
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Manuel Göttsching - Supersense, Melbourne 7/8/2015
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