Trying to bend down on stage to adjust some equipment in the early part of his Friday night Perth Festival performance he claims is too much for his back. 

After a long drive across the Nullarbor from his Melbourne home his body is comparable to a dropped box of CDs, “with discs everywhere”.

This sets the tone for Stoneking’s first of two festival shows at The Embassy – a little rough around the edges, plenty of dry humour and definitely lo-fi delivery. 

When it comes to the music itself, however, there’s no sign of any handicap. Stoneking wheels out a succession of catchy tunes incorporating his beguiling blend of Americana styles with southern blues, calypso, old-time jazz and country held together with swinging hooks, and all delivered authentically through his mumbled vocals.

Stoneking is a multi-instrumentalist on strings and his backing ensemble takes on a range of forms and sizes, sometimes with bass and horns. For this performance he is in stripped back trio mode with Stoneking sticking with guitar and his two bandmates wielding tuba and accordion. 

This means there isn’t the musical depth and variation that comes in his ‘orchestra’ mode and there isn’t a lot of variation in delivery between each tune, but it also allows the audience to tune into Stoneking’s vocals which are an instrument of their own, gravelly and growling one minute, all talking blues the next, with sweet honey overtones dripped throughout.

Stoneking hasn’t released a studio album for more than 10 years (since Gon’ Boogaloo in 2014). While that is disappointing for fans craving new music, he continues to tour worldwide and on stage is undoubtedly where he is in his element.

We see plenty of evidence of that in Friday night’s performance as he conjures a homely warmth, with plenty of quiet chat and sly smiles at the audience when he cracks an unexpected joke. 

Stoneking provides an introductory story for each tune, including a warning that the Caribbean segment is coming up (“no time for costume changes”) and that anyone with kids should kick them outside before he plays The Zombie (“it’s a little bit scary”).

A highlight of this schtick is his introduction to Goin’ the Country, where Stoneking announces he’s embarking on a duet with himself and warns that there’s “not much difference in the two voices”.

The only criticism I can make about Stoneking’s performance is its brevity. It is advertised at 60 minutes and that’s just what the trio deliver. The trouble is once you make the decision to enter the time capsule that is Stoneking’s world, you are swept up in his storytelling and unique musicality and it’s not easy to find your way out.

On this occasion, there’s not much choice. Lights up and no encore as the venue has to be reset for the next show. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this could go on for another 60 minutes and we’ll still be craving more of these jungle blues.