★★★★★

Adelaide Fringe. Spiegel Zelt. 24 Feb 2026

 

“It starts like this” says Moko Kodo (aka Monica) of many songs in this delightful gig a happy audience experienced.

 

This cheeky lady wrote a bunch of songs to see if they landed with herself and an audience, despite not knowing much about being in the music game (ok, a Melbs mate loaned a song) let alone playing a bass guitar.

Stuff to write, stuff to say and gusto to do it.

 

Bass guitar as foundational structure to bunch of songs of break up, family issues, weirdness.

That’s a really strange take. Name a song you know where the bass is up and front of everything (alright a few). This gig? It works. Big time.

 

Especially if the writing is good and you have brilliant band mates on violin like Jacob Usplooji, and total control from Dave Watkins on drums. It is the most gentle, but solid support you could want for an act that relies totally on each other to make a ripping night.

 

Numbers like Nick’s Song to My Girl are filled with resigned sadness up to the kick arse satiric fun of She Wants to Die (crazy mother in hospital) and two hands-down, laugh-out-funny numbers I Know You Don’t Love Me (“ do you want your drivers license back?”) and title song of the night, I’m Not Going to Marry You.

 

There is a delightful line of emotional introspection and hilarious sarcasm in these songs. Moko can go deep and high vocally and lyrically. Laugh? Hell yes! Sit back and think yes, I lived that, given there’s a lot of experiences here many will have shared in their time.

If you missed this gig, be assured there will be another one!!

 

David O’Brien

 

When: Season Closed

Where: Spiegel Zelt, Garden of Unearthly Delights

Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au