Original Review:

Show Rating:

For his 2006 Melbourne show, he’s chosen the subject of music. And everyone likes music – so this just has to be great fun, right? Right.

The concept is that McClelland has produced an eight-track mixed tape for his audience; a varied collection of songs that mean something to him and reflect his personality, just like you might compile for a potential lover. The Jackson Five, The Smiths, Kanye West, Postal Service, Explosions In The Sky – it’s an eclectic, idiosyncratic mix, but a top quality one.

Bundled loosely around the music is a collection of stand-up routines and set pieces, from tales of being thrown out of nightclubs as a young man for ‘dangerous dancing’ to attempting to improvise a new parochial Australian folk-rock classic from the audience’s suggestions.

It’s all executed with upbeat passion and conviction. Even when he’s talking about hip-hop, a genre he dislikes, it’s not an exasperated tirade, but instead he gives voice to his 19th Century English barrister within, a perfect fuddy-duddy expression of his incomprehension at the casual sexism, violence and homophobia within its lyrics. The joke is turned on him, not the subject matter, and it’s the funnier for it. And, of course, seeing an unfashionable white guy trying to rap is always hilarious.

In fact, it’s hard to recall many actual, identifiable jokes in the hour and a bit he was on stage. But his warmth, positivity and dedication to pursuing the most frivolous of subject with a seriousness of purpose ensure this is a show of no-nonsense good fun. Like music itself, it’s all about creating a mood, and McClelland succeeds like few others in this.

Don’t go expecting searing insight or neatly tied-up conclusions. In the final analysis, Mixed Tape is a show that doesn’t really go anywhere – except Feelgood Central. And you couldn’t want for a better destination than that.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Melbourne, May 2006