Festival Theatre Banquet Room, Adelaide
June 8, 2018

Apart from the magnificent Paul Capsis, all the artists I’ve seen attempt to channel Janis Joplin have failed. The usual problem is that they mistake high volume and shrill screaming as the quintessential Joplin vocal and overlook the deep respect that Joplin had for melody. Joplin was a blues singer with an innate ferocity fuelled by a tough childhood in conservative Port Arthur, Texas. She was earthy and street wise like her idol Bessie Smith, but capable of being electrifying on her best days like at the Monterey Pop Festival where she became an overnight sensation.

Amber Martin in Janis Undead. Photograph © Manish Gosalia Photography

You might think it strange that a woman in her late forties could be the next best to the real thing who died at 27, but there can be no doubt that Amber Martin ticks all the boxes. She has the power, the technique, and the courage, and the audience knew from the get go that they had struck gold as she strode out in psychedelic mini-skirt, suspenders and boots singing Mercedes Benz. The band consisting of Musical Director Paul Leshen on keyboards and vocals, Django Rowe (lead guitar), Phil Wilson ( bass) and Matt Crago (drums) were tight and probably superior to some of the bands that supported Joplin herself in her early days.

As for the set list, Joplin devotees should have been well sated. Martin belted out the hard rock classics like Piece of My Heart, Combination of the Two, Try and Turtle Blues with gusto as the audience swayed in admiration. However, Martin’s work on the ballads like Maybe, Little Girl Blue, Summertime, Cry Baby and (my favourite) Get it While You Can was even more impressive. Perhaps because Martin too emanates from Port Arthur, her monologues were so eerily reminiscent of Joplin that it almost felt like I was at a seance.

It was Joplin’s amazing performance of the Big Mama Thornton classic Ball and Chain that propelled her to fame at Monterey (YouTube has the memorable footage of Cass Elliott being overwhelmed by the performance) and Martin pulled out all stops to recreate it at the end of the show. An encore of Me and Bobby McGee was rewarded with the standing ovation it deserved and everyone left smiling and seriously considering returning yet again for Martin’s two remaining performances.


Amber Martin performs Janis Undead for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival until June 10

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