DIGGY BONES & THE TOKENS OF LOVE RETURN TRIUMPHANT!
After a successful tour of Melbourne during the 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival musical comedy ensemble Diggy Bones & The Tokens of Love are back in their home town to perform Diggy Bones & The Tokens of Love: RETURN TO GREATNESS for two nights only!!
8.00 PM SHARP @ LAZY SUSAN’S COMEDY DEN
WED 1 AND THURS 2 JULY 09
ADMISSION $15
Book through BOCS
http://www.bocsticketing.com.au/events/digggy_bones.shtml
9484 1133 or at the door
Diggy Bones is a fast talking flashy dresser – with a message of ‘lurve’ and so much more delivered in gut busting style with his funky fellows from his band ‘The Tokens of Love’. With strong roots in cabaret, stand up comedy, musical/theatre and pimped up spectacle funk, this fresh and exciting new show also features the short documentary The Rise & Fall… and Rise again of Diggy Bones. A feature that charts the triumphant but also turbulent history of this enigmatic and irreverent character along with his band as they take to the stage to reclaim their rightful places in the spotlight once more for the comeback spectacular of the decade!
ʻThe next big thing in Australian musical comedy…
Breathtakingly good”
Australian Stage Online - April 2009
“A musical tour de force… Brilliantly hilarious.”
The Groggy Squirrel - April 2009
Melbourne Comedy Festival Show 2nd - 25th April, 2009. Show starts at 7.00pm
“I’ve decided to go out on a limb here:
I think Ben Sutton will be the next big thing in
Australian musical comedy. There. I’ve said it.”
Simonne Michelle-Wells - front page of Australian Stage , April 2009
Check out the Australian Stage Review of the show.
Check out the Groggy Squirrel review of the show.
“Diggy Bones is a danger to the public as far as we’re concerned.
You will be bewitched by his honey voice.
You will be hypnotised by his wondrous duds and his glittering teeth.
Then you’ll wake up next to a monkey with a hangover. Beware.”
Tripod, 2009
Diggy Bones and the Tokens of Love are proud to be supported by:
Diggy Bones
Enigmatic, irreverent and oozing a filthy understated charm, Diggy Bones is quite simply, the MAN. The man for all occasions, the ladies man, the man’s man, man about town and now front man for his band The Tokens of Love. The early years of Diggy’s life are shrouded in mystery with the good man himself saying “It aint about where you from, it’s where you at!” Later he became known as an adaptable entrepreneur after conquering prime time TV with his hit show Judge Diggy, scaling the dizzying heights of the movie business with the box office smash Vigilante Fever and releasing the best selling fragrance Elusive, Diggy made the move into politics which would prove to be his undoing. But like a phoenix from the ashes he has risen once more to lead the way for The Tokens of Love as they spread their good time message like only they know how and put the ‘Fun’ into Funk!
Coco Sugar Lips
It takes a very special woman to consistently attract the attention of a man like Diggy Bones. Streetwise, Coco Sugarlips has done just that. Initially meeting at ‘CocoDice’ her underground gambling den, then crossing paths again entertaining in Vegas, Coco secured a much sought after place in ‘The Tokens of Love’ and has been the Sassy Sexy and Rambunctious singer/bass player ever since. Growing up fast, as an 8 year old runaway, Coco has successfully tried her hand at many things and has consistently been quoted saying “what good is the cheddar without the love”. She is a loyal friend and ‘Token’ but also a formidable force when crossed. Her exceptional vocal ability has captured the hearts of many fans including all members of the tokens of love and of course, the man: ‘Diggy Bones’.
Colonel Fingers
Joining the ranks of the new Special Ops team of the Army of Love, Colonel Fingers, who has a decorated military career, has finally stepped into a position that utilises all of his experience in the field. This ‘token of love’ has a mysterious past, much of which is deemed classified. His reclusive and eccentric manner has made him notoriously prolific on his chosen instrument, preferring to let his guitar, ‘Chrissy-Anne’, do the talking. Be prepared to take a ride on the ‘Funkified FretlessExpress’ as his fingers blur the lines of his much beloved Ax.
Bustin Downtown
He’s rich, debonaire and one of the world’s most devastating exponents of the handclap. Some might say he’s Diggy Bones’ right-hand man, but one thing’s for sure, Bustin Downtown brings a wealth of experience to bear as he lays down the tracks for the fretless express, Colonel Fingers. And with nothin’ less than infinite finesse, Bustin garnishes the lyrical subtleties of the gorgeous Coco Sugarlips to complete the constellation of stars that is the fiercely funky and delicately refined, Tokens of Love.
Reviews
Review featured on the front page of Australian Stage. Written by Simonne Michelle-Wells.
I’ve decided to go out on a limb here: I think Ben Sutton will be the next big thing in Australian musical comedy. There. I’ve said it.
What is it about Perth and music comedy talent? Maybe there’s something in the water? Who knows, but Sutton simply oozes talent. My face is still aching from seeing his show Return to Greatness. This is a must-see for this year’s Festival. It’ll be one of those things in years to come that you’ll gloat about to your friends who are clamouring to get $100 tickets: “I saw him when he was just breaking into the big time, in a pokey little bar in some obscure MICF venue.” Mark my words people, you may never see this man again for only $18 a ticket.
Return to Greatness is a wholly satisfying experience because the hour-long show follows a narrative that, despite its (intended) lightness and irony, grounds you in the story and draws you cleverly along. On top of this, the performances are breathtakingly good.
The story follows Diggy Bones (Sutton), a sort of funk gangster cum D-grade celebrity who has risen, fallen, and is in the process of rising again. Diggy is here to tell us the no-holds-barred story with the help of his funk band, The Tokens of Love. The first song, We’re Gonna Do it Like Bonobos (they’re horny little monkeys and they’ve got no clothes) is truly hilarious. As is We Fixed the Munted, a song developed during Diggy’s time writing jingles for the Minister for Health.
This show has it all: from a sonnet about foot fetishes to a cameo from Tripod. From the costuming to the well produced video footage, no detail has been left to chance. And yet, it still has the sparkle that excellent stand-up and improvisation can bring in the hands of someone who truly understands the art of comic timing.
Sutton’s voice is wonderful. How on earth he manages to produce such sublime tones around those hilarious choppers, I have no idea. I can only imagine what the man sounds like without them. His acting skills are top notch, too; the inclusion of an affecting and vulnerable moment for Diggy proves as such (not to mention the unfaltering characterisation). Diggy’s band, The Tokens of Love - comprising Coco Sugarlips (Ofa Fotu) on vocals and bass, Colonel Fingers (Gary Benness) on guitar, and Bustin’ Down Town(Steven Rea) on drums - are a ridiculously talented trio of musicians. Fotu almost brought the crowd to their feet with her powerful, Aretha Franklin-esque voice.
Just go and see it.
Click to view review in Australian Stage.
Review in Groggy Squirrel, for Return To Greatness, Colin Flaherty – 04 April 2009
In their show Return To Greatness, Diggy Bones and The Tokens of Love (comprising of Co Co Sugar Lips on bass and backing vocals, Colonel Fingers on guitar and bustin’ Down town on drums) present a musical tour de force and history lesson of the great entertainer that is Diggy.
Through a documentary film that was shown in installments throughout the show, we learnt about his extraordinary life. From Used Car Salesman to TV Star, from movie actor to Politician we went through the ups and downs of his life up until his comeback in music. These filmed segments were brilliantly hilarious as Diggy told his tale and showed excerpts from his work, complete with all the Gangsta cliches.
Between each video segment we were treated to a performance by the band. They were a tight funk machine that kept the crowd dancing in their seats. Although these songs had potentially hilarious subjects they weren’t particularly amusing in their lyrics. Thankfully Diggy’s larger than life personality provided plentiful amusement to keep the punters laughing throughout the show. Diggy was a wild pimp-like sex god whose between song banter was priceless and his interactions with the audience and band was dripping with innuendo and comical Gangsta bravado.
For the most part, the band members played straight men to Diggy, concentrating on providing the brilliant musical accompaniment. Occasionally they were offered the opportunity to add an element of humour, such as Colonel Fingers’ over enthusiastic solo and Co Co’s constant disgusted looks following Diggy’s often foolish antics, but it was clear that Diggy was the focus of the show.
In addition to the obliglitory audience call and response to the music, there was a game show segment involving a lucky punter. This doomed shell game and it’s strange prize was a hilarious sequence that built the already strained dynamics in the band.
Diggy Bones and the Tokens of Love were a wonderful example of the comedic band genre. Although not strictly musical comedy, they put on a brilliant performance that kept the adoring fans in stitches.
Click to view review in groggy squirrel.
Review from Tripod, from Live at the Quarry, 2009
“Diggy Bones is a danger to the public as far as we’re concerned.
You will be bewitched by his honey voice.
You will be hypnotised by his wondrous duds and his glittering teeth.
Then you’ll wake up next to a monkey with a hangover. Beware.”
Tripod, 2009
Review from Fasterlouder.com for Live at the Quarry, 2009
“Diggy Bones was the warm up act, supported by his backing band The Tokens of Love. Bones is fast becoming a “perthonality” with duties of hosting for the ladies that are Sugar Blue Burlesque and apparently with his band or as a solo comedy act. His sense of style cannot be matched (tonight he was appropriately dressed like a pimped out santa) and his character remained intact throughout. We were only privy to a few songs, ranging from monkeys having sex in cuba; to Diggy (on the request of the Health Minister no less) being responsible for Perth having a reputation of good-looking people by “fixing” the uglies; to foot fetishes, making one wonder what other ridiculous concepts we’d get to hear if they’d had more stage-time. It was funny, and even if you didn’t think so it was entertaining purely for how ridiculous it all was.”
Raciroo, fasterlouder.com.au, 2009
Video
Audio
Listen to live interview with Peter Barr on RTRFM 92.1 - 12/03/2009
Go straight to the song ‘Bonobo Lovin’ live…
Contact & Bookings
Drop us a line and say hello or make an enquiry. On of our slave monkeys will process this and get back to you faster than you can say… shazam!
Contact & Booking Form
Diggy Bones & The Tokens Of Love are proud to be supported by:
If you want to jump on the bandwagon and get a piece of the diggy pie, drop us a line bookings@diggybones.com