Dom Mariani

DOM MARIANI & THE MAJESTIC KELP“MUSIC TO CHASE CARS BY”In May 2003 Dom Mariani & The Majestic Kelp released their acclaimed debut album Underwater Casino. The instrumental collection combined a love of surf guitar sounds, Ennio Morricone style western themes, blues and psychedelic fuzztones to create a soundtrack (as one excited reviewer coined it) of Lounge Surf . The Majestic Kelp is considered somewhat of a radical turn in a prolific musical career that has seen Mariani front Perth Garage rock legends The Stems, guitar pop stylists The Someloves and DM3 who released three great albums of melody driven rock’n’roll in the 90’s.3 years on from Underwater Casino Dom and the Kelp return with their second offering “Music To Chase Cars By”. Where the Underwater Casino album was written and recorded before the band had played any live shows, “Music To Chase Cars By” is Dom Mariani and the Majestic Kelp in ‘show-mode’. A collection of tunes resulting from time between albums working up a live show with their fusion of surf guitar, swampy blues, psychedelic freakouts and R&B based instrumentals at venues in and around their hometown of Perth and on 2 east coast tours. The band has also supported the likes of Tony Joe White,The Black Keys, The Raveonettes and The Beach Boys on recent tours.Recorded in Perth at Kingdom Studios and mixed in San Diego by the legendary Mark Neill (Los Straightjackets, Deke Dickerson) at Soil Of The South studios. Special guests include some of Perth’s finest musicians such as legendary Perth blues guitarist Dave Hole, Saxophonist Billy Rogers (Last Chance Café, Zydecats, Dragon) , bassist Howie Shawcross (Elks, Las Chance Café) and new Kelp keyboardist Tobias (Toby) Gosfield son of legendary pedal steel player Lucky Oceans. Music To Chase Cars By is a groovy combination of vintage sounds and infectious melodies from a songwriter and band who has proven, once again, that groove and melody, when it’s found, will always be, the sweetest sound.Start your Engines!Our journey begins with Drivin’ South .The Kelp set the scene with a relaxed groove while Perth blues legend Dave Hole and bass man Howie Shawcross climb on board as we make our way down the highway to where Occhilupo surfs the waves into Outta-space. As the motor starts to rev and Run Cheetah,Run moves out with pedal flat to the floor and out of control. Billy Rogers’ wild saxophone wails racing and weaving with Dom’s driving fuzz guitar. Our journey continues along the highway and into cruise control with the Kelp are Go! while taking in the scenery to the chiming of the Byrds Have Flown, weaving along the Swampwater Drive and a nod on the way to Hank B Marvin with Off the Top of My Head as they arrive at the Red Road Speedway for the eventual race, spitting out sparks in a full-tilt showdown. As the album makes it was home, they negotiate the peak hour buzz of Traffic Jam City that leads them back to the moonscape where the baritone guitars of Moondozer riding the desert wind to the album closer, Black Impala. Music To Chase Cars By is a concept album worthy of it’s title.DOM MARIANI & THE MAJESTIC KELP – history so far Since the release of their critically acclaimed work “Underwater Casino” at the end of May 2003, Dom Mariani & the Majestic Kelp have quickly established a reputation as one Australia’s most interesting and exciting instrumental outfits. Combining surf guitar, blues, lounge, soundtracks, garage and pop sensibilities the band has, in it’s short life, toured the East Coast playing the prestigious World Famous Spiegeltent at Melbourne’s Festival of Arts and the Apollo Bay Music Festival as well having the privilege of supporting such international artists as Tony Joe White, The Black Keys, The Raveonettes and The Beach Boys at their only Australian show at Cottesloe Beach. The beginning of The Majestic Kelp came together 5 years ago at a turning point in band leader Dom Mariani’s career. With the help of bassist Stu Loasby and drummer Robbie Scorer, the time seemed right to indulge his passion for instrumental sounds and finally put together a band and album which covered not only the influences acquired over the years but a look to the future of an unlimited soundscape of ideas. As one of Perth’s most respected musicians, Dom first made his mark in the mid to late 80’s fronting legendary Perth garage rock outfit the Stems and produced a string of critically lauded albums throughout the 90’s with the power pop driven Someloves and DM3. These records established him as an artist of note in Australia, Europe, Japan and the US. The last half of the 90’s saw Dom take his music to the live stages across Europe to consolidate his reputation as a songwriter with class and dedication. More recently, Mariani was requested by Bruce Springsteen sideman, Steve Van Zandt (Little Steven) to bring the reformed Stems across to America to perform in New York at Little Stevens Underground Garage Festival. The Stems shared the stage alongside Bo Diddley, Nancy Sinatra, Iggy and the Stooges, the New York Dolls, The Pretty Things and the Strokes to name a few. As well as producing new bands and creating the new Majestic Kelp album, a 2005 release of a 20 year retrospective anthology titled Popsided Guitar taking in highlights and obscurities from his extensive back catalogue. To celebrate this release, Mariani recently completed a tour with his new band The Rippled Souls, taking in shows in Japan, Italy, Scandinavia and Spain.