Mama Red and the Dark Blues

Harry rather likes Kale. She even thinks it is perfectly reasonable to eat said green leafy vegetable in smoothies. She believes that you can make friends with salad. Harry has a tendency to trip, fall, knock things over and drop things – which is now, in her house at least – called ‘doing a Harry’. This does not accord with her partner’s belief that wine is sacred and should not be spilled (see Melanie Bainbridge). Harry sings because she can’t not. Music is medicine, therapy and solace for Harry. She loves to support local, original music – and can often be found in the audience at gigs, keeping music live and local. Find Harry on Facebook here.

Al does not enjoy hugs. He doesn’t even pretend to enjoy hugs. As a result, the people who love him most inflict them on him at alarmingly regular intervals. They are certain that over time he will come to enjoy them – or at least become somewhat desensitised.

Al collects all manner of oddments and plants them in his garden. Currently he is growing several dolls heads, a few dismembered arms and a headless duck…thing… He also grows vegetables. Al is a guitarist who has blues riffs running through his veins… but he’ll jump on a double bass if the mood takes him.

Mel really, really, really doesn’t like Kale. Her motto is ‘thou shalt not eat weeds’. Mel believes that wine is a food group, taken best in liberal servings. She would rather spill blood than wine. Mel writes things. Lots of things. When she has spare time, she writes some other things. She hums incessantly – and often can’t tell she’s doing it. Mel thinks she is an awesome dancer… Facebook tells her otherwise…

Therese was discovered by Harry and Mel at karaoke while singing Def Leppard. She is a closet cosplayer. As in more than half her closet is actually cosplay. Therese’s favourite beverage is Whiskey thanks to a liver damaging trip to Ireland.

She can hold entire conversations with inanimate objects (including her car) and finds them to be quite good conversationalists. After almost 15 years in musical theatre Therese is now an expert quick change artist and can change an entire outfit in under 30 seconds.

John is the most laid back man on the planet. He frequently goes bush and ‘gets lost’ in the wilderness to get some real down time. John loves a good hat. He has his casual Akubra, and his formal Akubra. They do look suspiciously similar. John has bass in his blood and is perhaps the only one of the Mama Red crew who doesn’t qualify as slightly obsessive or compulsive… but does qualify as a great balance for those of us who are…

Leah has played in bands with Harry Deluxe on and off for almost a decade. Her versatility, and her sense of humour make her an indispensable part of any musical project. Leah brings sunshine, dirty jokes and a ratbag attitude to the Mama Red crew, and her willingness to muck in and muck around with us is always valued.

Kieran has a Transylvanian heritage – but he loves garlic, so you don’t have to be worried about his canines. Kieran’s blood type is espresso but he is yet to try Black Blood of the Earth, like a true coffee addict would. He would rather be that guy who said “I read the book” rather than “Is that the one with Orlando Bloom in it?” Kieran’s world view has been influenced by too many Neil Gaiman comics and Dostoyevksy in equal measure. Kieran is a whisky snob who can no longer afford whisky older than he is.

We’d like to acknowledge our former keys maestro Paul Gioia. Paul was an unforgettable and irreplaceable member of Mama Red & the Dark Blues and an absolute joy of a human being. Words simply don’t do justice to the man, his considerable contribution to Australian music, or the gifts he brought to the world. Forever in our hearts.

Sanshi is the newest member of Mama Red & the Dark Blues who started his journey with the band as a guest artist… but we wouldn’t let him leave. Sanshi is a incredible didgeridoo player who also digs Japanese drumming and teaching. He is also one of the nicest humans that ever graced the planet. We love him for all of those reasons, and for the fact that he knows a good sake and is always willing to share.