Broads and Basslines

When most of us think of burlesque, we picture a tiny piano and guys in boater hats smoking pipes. Even though burlesque and cabaret have endured a rocky path these many years, there is a staunch revival happening in Brisbane, led by four likely ladies from The Rock n Roll Revue.

Bertie Page and her scantily clad cohorts, along with full rock backing from The Bertie Page Clinic, are bringing together a unique fusion of old world naughtiness and slammin rock and roll.

“Well, this is the first band I’ve ever been in, and it’s quite amazing to be there with people who are so experienced,” Bertie pipes. “They all have at least 20 years of rock and roll behind them on the Brisbane band scene. It’s really perfect. They know their music inside out, and I just have to focus on the singing and (the) entertaining end of things.”

The Bertie Page Clinic boast ex-members of perennial Brisbane bands like Blowhard, SixFtHick and Safari Krishnas. Twisted and bitter from years of pounding their instruments, they’re fast becoming known as the grumpiest band in Brisbane. But hey, being pissed off is very rock and roll. “But it goes much further,” Bertie insists. “(It’s) more mature than being pissed off, grumpiness is a whole other level. It’s the nirvana of angry.”

And while some may think this is simply a well-crafted stage persona, Bertie insists it goes much deeper than that. “I’d like to say that it’s all staged, but we have had some genuine hissy-fits. I think that’s an enticement for people to come the show, because this is for real men. There is drumstick throwing, and there is the constant use of the phrase, ‘this song’s shit, I’m not playing it!’”

But it’s not all tantrums and storm clouds; “It does very much have that cabaret vibe and some of the bawdiness of burlesque humour. And then we have all the boys being in outrageous bands like Blowhard and with a pretty crazy sense of humour with things like the Safari Krishnas.”

Bertie promises the The Bertie Page Clinic album is but “a bee’s dick away from being released”. “Phil Wilson - as the main co-writer with myself - he has an amazing musical knowledge, and not only does he write rock and roll but he is a classical composer, so it gives the music a very exotic feel and it has influences from all over the world.”

It’s safe to assume that most of the power behind the band is held in the live show - a combination of cabaret, big riffs and some interesting sideshow antics.

“There is going to be a pin-up competition. We already have quite a few girls, and perhaps some boys entering. Prizes for that include some dance classes from BB le Buff, and Viola Vixen, they are both well-heeled burlesque ladies and they have been teaching other ladies how to shimmy and shake for quite some time.“

The Rock n Roll Revue promises a refreshing alternative to The Clinic’s grizzly, wheezing constituents. “The Revue is very separate from The Clinic; there is a distinct absence of grumpiness from the Rock n Roll Revue; it’s a very nurturing and feminine atmosphere, it’s all about sharing as girls, and for this show we are hooking up with Captain Twilight and the Six Shooters, so they will be singing songs while the girls dance.“

Bertie Page is a seasoned burlesque dancer, and it has only been in recent years that she has turned her attention to fronting the band. The songs she has conjured are inevitably coloured with tales of her unusual adventures.

“The songs certainly are comedic in the their nature, and most of them have turned out to be biographical. The song ‘Glitter Johnny’ is based on my experiences as a teenager and – hmm – you know, years beyond the realm of the teenage years fancying some very lovely boys, who turned out to be not so into girls.”

Catch The Rock n Roll Burlesque Show, including The Bertie Page Clinic and The Rock n Roll Revue with Captain Twilight and the Six Shooters at The Zoo Friday December 4.