A Little About The Band
Mama Red & the Dark Blues formed in 2016 and released their debut album in the same year.
Described as ‘Alt-Folk-Rock with a hint of Blues’, but messing with genres, gender stereotypes and refusing to be stylistically confined, the band’s eclecticism and originality is part of their charm. They hark back to the earliest bawdy blues, sink into soulful R&B via the hallowed halls of country, grab a little folksy gospel and then give a slightly ironic nod to modern pop – all without losing their distinct and unique ‘Australian Gothic’ sound. Mama Red & the Dark Blues take listeners on a musical journey to Hades via Lost Love Canyon, Near Miss Alley and Shotgun Street – and bring them out feeling like they’ve ridden a thousand miles on a horse named Sorrow, but lived to tell the tale.
The band’s debut album The Wages of Sin (2016), sings straight to the hearts of those who have wrestled with the wrong relationships, waded through self-doubt and addiction and emerged from darkness with grace, power and a universal story to share.
In August 2022, Mama Red & the Dark Blues dropped their long awaited second album, Long Way to Redemption.
With a lead vocalist who can blow the speakers, and a posse of the State’s most talented musicians and some seriously sexy harmonies behind her – Mama Red & The Dark Blues deserve your undivided attention. And beware… if you don’t give it, you may have it taken from you by force.
Mama Red and The Dark Blues are: Harry Deluxe on lead vocals; Melanie Bainbridge - lyricist and backing vocals; Therese Cruise – backing vocals; Al James – guitar; John Wilson / Leah Van Der Meulen – bass; and, Sanshi (Saegusa Yoshitaka) - didgeridoo.
The bands first single, Going Down in Flames was released May 2022, and marked the start of the journey into more modern, folk-rock sound.
You can find the album on bandcamp here.
THE BAND
HARRY DELUXE - lead vocals
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 JAMES - guitar
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.
JOHN WILSON - electric & double bass
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 VAN DER MEULEN - electric and double bass
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.
THERESE CRUISE - backing vocals
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. Find Therese on Facebook.
MELANIE BAINBRIDGE - lyrics / composition / backing vocals
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… Find Melanie on Facebook.
SANSHI (Saegusa Yoshitaka) - didgeridoo
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.
KIERAN KENDERESSY - the super producer
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. Find Kieran on Facebook.
PAUL GIOIA - piano / organ / keyboards (VALE)
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.
The Buzz
"The arrangements were excellent whether they were originals or covers. Mama Red’s delivery covered gutsy blues to country to pop with a touch of gospel with ease.
The crowd left supremely satisfied, eagerly awaiting the chance to download songs soon and perhaps purchase a limited vinyl edition of Wages of Sin hopefully out by Christmas."
Claire Condry - Australian Stage
"The two hour launch dipped into all kinds of emotions and situations, and yes, the vocals only and torch songs were gutsy and brilliant, but I do love a ripping break up song and Come By Sunday is one of those songs you're still toe tapping to on the way home in the car."
Jay Crisp - Weekend Notes
"A tall, imposing figure with a fiery shock of hair, Mama rang the changes from harsh and strident to harmonious and tuneful in a pastiche ranging from the dark blues of the eponymous backing band to sweetness and light in duet with lyricist Melanie Bainbridge. It was a fun party night that exposed technique and timing with a touch of intrigue."
David Cusworth - The West Australian