The Rogers Sisters

Hotsource - Live Review - 10/17/06

The Rogers Sisters Delivered the Goods

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at Rebel Rebel on Darling Harbour. But much like the bars name, I instantly felt at Home to the sounds of Peaches and MIA blaring over the sound system while waiting for New York underground trio, The Rogers Sisters.

Made up of two real-life sisters, Jennifer (guitar/vocals) and Laura (drums) and with the addition of captivatingly hypnotic bassist Miyuki Furtado, this quirky music triad know exactly how to put on a show. From the moment they take to the stage and start jamming to tracks such as ‘I Dig a Hole’ and ‘Check Level’, you find yourself starting to move and shake with the music. Before you know it you start to dance uncontrollably, but you’re enjoying every moment with the crowd, hoping it never stops. This is Rogers Sisters’ magic, which keeps bringing people from around the world, back for more.
Advertise here

The atmosphere that Rebel Rebel created was a perfect fit to what this band could deliver. A variation of personalities filled the room, wearing an unusual interpretation of their Sunday best, while casually taking a drag of a cigarette and tapping away to whatever remix was playing to kill time before the show. Occasionally you would see a member of the Sisters ambling across to the bar to grab a drink or be on stage fixing a technical issue. Few people were doing well to barely notice them wandering around, as the relaxed mood was determined to stay that way until 9:30.

But then, opening the night were Canberra dance-punk band, ‘Young and Restless’ who walked onstage, grabbed the room’s mellow atmosphere by the balls and exploded into song. Singer, Karina Utomo ambled on stage with nothing more than a sweet pink dress, white slippers and innocent face, but the moment she opened her mouth, it was clear she could easily take on the screaming vocal likes of Courtney Love or Karen O.

When the Rogers Sisters arrived, it was surprising to see them subdued in casual wear: A far cry from their usual funky disco threads that coincided with their pop-frenzy music. Jennifer wearing a black shirt and dark pants, much like Laura while Furtado wore a long white-sleeved shirt, jeans and casual sneakers. Miyuki Furtado has a mesmerising quality about him by the way he plays his bass. It’s not often that bassists forget the heaviness of the instrument, but obviously Furtado is an exception. With the intensity and insanity of a punk rocker, one moment he’s playing with the precision bass above his head, next he’s jumping into the air threatening to land in the drum kit, then another second later he’s falling to his knees and letting out a deep growl from the Fender.

Jennifer’s charismatic nature won the audience over as she asked odd questions of the crowd during the course of their set: ‘Who else thinks Diana Ross has cool hair?’ Later she and Furtado dedicated a couple of their songs to the likes of Ms. Ross or Ygnwie Malmsteen and kept letting out giggles to each other before starting the next song.

While they did a mixture of tunes for their rather tight 40 minute set, crowd favourites had to go to ‘Never Learn to Cry’ and ‘Why Won’t You’ both off their new album The Invisible Deck which both sent the audience into dance frenzy before making a quick exit.

The audience (almost) got what they wanted as the Rogers Sisters delivered the goods, however a longer set could have been in their favour, ensuring the crowd to be blown away, rather than confused when the band said goodnight 20 minutes before schedule. Either way, the next time this New York trio come to town, I’ll be first in line because they’re an act not to be missed.

By Jenna Thompson
Photographs by Jocelyn Tam
Hotsource