Music / “Genteel Poverty and the Likelihood of Rain”, Konrad Lenz. At Polish White Eagle Club, Turner, July 30. Reviewed by GRAHAM McDONALD.

IT’S been a while since I’ve been to a record launch, but this one was a bit special, combining a long-gestated album from local musician Konrad Lenz with his 50th birthday party.

Lenz has been part of the Canberra arts community as a songwriter, performer, photographer, filmmaker and collector of obscure Eastern European jazz guitars for the past three decades or so and the launch of his new album is the culmination of 10 years of work.

The evening was a gathering of what you might call the alternative and arty end of the local music scene, mixing singer-songwriters, cabaret, country and surf music, both performers and audience, the people who used to perform at the fondly remembered Phoenix Bar in East Row and these days seemed to have moved to Smiths Alternative.

The evening opened with three songs from local songwriter Tom Woodward, followed by three more from jazzy guitar and keyboard duo Fiona and Blair, sometime band members with Lenz. The next act was a three piece, The Dreamlanders, with some gospel-tinged country music, before a reunion set by Mikelangelo and the Tin Stars, twangy surf music infused country with various extra musicians coming and going from the stage.

Finally there Konrad Lenz and his band, consisting of two guitarists, violin, cello and Michael Simic sitting in on accordion and clarinet, who worked their way through the songs on Lenz’s new album “Genteel Poverty and the Likelihood of Rain”.

Lenz is a lyrical songwriter, the words all important, but with a clever ear for a melodic hook and an unexpected turn of phrase. Clever songwriting and quirky, old fashioned analogue ideas of production. Look it up on Bandcamp.

The evening was cleverly put together, with just enough from the support acts without wearing out their welcome, with sympathetic sound production in a packed Polo Club, the idea venue for such an event. Grand fun all around.