\"I have these dreams I\'m in Soweto around my neck a flaming tyre, 　　I blame it all upon the Government\'s special grant for first home buyers\" 　　 　　So runs the slightly derailed train of thought of DC “Root” – charismatic leader of ROOT! – Melbourne’s new (yet strangely familiar) country punk poets. 　　 　　A ROOT! show is like no other you’re likely to see – are they a swingin’ bar band? Poetry? A stand-up comedy show? Cerebral, or just plain fun? The truth is, they are all of the above. ROOT! are first and foremost a rock band – but then there’s a whole lot else... Don’t let the hats fool you – ROOT! are no “spoof” act or ‘pisstake’- their music is played with authenticity and serious intent by musicians with long CVs: 　　 　　• New-Orleans-trained jazz/blues drummer Barnaby “Root” 　　• Jazz veteran Steve “Root” on piano 　　• Bass player Douglas Lee “Root” from Melbourne’s much-loved Ice Cream Hands 　　• and, whirling and careening across the stage, punk-twangin’ guitarist, sax virtuoso, soundtrack composer, (and full-time carpenter) Henri “Root” – described by DC as his “alter ego and canasta partner.” 　　 　　Then, over their rootsy rocking swagger are the rambling, funny, melancholic, razor-sharp social observations of the man they call “DC”. He’s rock singer, poet, comedian, MC... he has a national cult following (for reasons explained later)... running the show and then stopping it for an impromptu monologue, or spending half the night in the audience. 　　 　　ROOT! emerged in 2007 with an established following, fan websites, full houses and articles in both the daily newspapers – unprecedented reaction for a ‘new’ band. They were also adopted as a cause celebre by famed comedian Tony Martin on national radio. 　　 　　The reason for much of the interest centred on DC’s ‘alleged’ past as former lead singer of TISM. His voice, the poetry, the left-field approach to performance are unmistakably familiar. But ROOT! will not confirm or deny these rumours. And DC will not refer to his past: 　　 　　“One morning I woke and I was a country singer. You can’t be a country singer till your looks have gone… and well – have you seen me lately?”