Despite being in the middle of Summer, and experiencing some record temperatures across the state, we got a perfect day for the South Aussie leg of Jimmy Barnes' Working Class Man 40th Aniversay Tour. Lightly overcast. Almost no chance of rain. The cloud cover taking all the edge out of the sun, which was still quite fierce during the brief moments when it did break through the clouds for a little while.
Guest artists supporting the show included, Jon Rooney, Kate Ceberano, Ian Moss, and Ice House.
Unfortunately, while my partner and I had every intention of being at the concert when the show actually started, so did quite a lot of people. We didn't quite anticipate the traffic getting into the venue, Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley, and we certainly didn't expect the 5-10 minute hike from the carpark to the concert area itself.
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| Kate Ceberano |
However, this is the first time I've seen her perform live, and I had no idea she's taken to playing electric drums (standing mind you) while singing with her powerhouse voice. Honestly, I think I only saw three songs, but her performance was the most memorable and different for me on the night.
If you've never seen her do this, do yourself a favor and watch the video below, and then check out any footage of her recent live tours. I'm pretty sure she didn't play the Divinals, Boys in Town at the SA show but the songs she did were amazing with every bit of energy she's showing in the video below. Honestly, it seems like she has more energy now than ever before on stage.
Kate Ceberano - Boys In Town (Official Video)
While the rest of the concert was every bit as good as you would expect from these seasoned performers, I would not have been disappointed if Kate came out and played her set again at the end of the night.
Anyway, to the rest of the concert...
Ian Moss was great and delivered the songs you know him for, which, outside of Cold Chisel is Telephone Booth, and Tucker's Daughter for me. As you would expect he joined Jimmy on stage later on, to play guitar for a song or two as well.
I haven't seen Ice House live since all their most well known songs were brand new and in the charts during the mid eighties, and they were the headline act. Aside from a little less dancing and running around the stage, Ivor Davies voice was as good as I remember.
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| Ice House - Ivor Davies |
Although I didn't think they would, I thought there might be the slightest chance Ivor would perform David Bowie's, Heroes, which they have performed live. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. Ivor's voice has a similar range and sound to David's. I'd love to hear him cover more Bowie songs - with his own spin on them, of course.
This is the third time I've seen Jimmy Barnes play live, making him the artist I've seen most in concert. Ian Moss coming in second (since he also played the Cold Chisel Blood Moon Tour with Jimmy in 2020), and Ice House, who I saw in Perth WA, as I've said were at the peak of their career, in the mid 1980s.
Jimmy never under delivers on his concerts, at least not the ones I've attended. This one he played the full Working Class Man album song set, since it's the 40th aniversary of the album. He then finished the night with a couple of Cold Chisel classics that he'd never get out of the venue if he didn't sing them.
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| Jimmy Barnes |
It's hard to say with Jimmy if he's in his 'best voice'. The first couple of songs felt a little bit raspy and strained to me compared to previous shows but he kept giving it everything and sounded better as he went on. Maybe he just hadn't had time for the full scream warm up he said he does on his book tour concert.
Overall. It was a great concert by a bunch of Australian legends in the music industry, still putting in strong live performances. Definitely don't miss any of them the next time they're performing near you.
.......I should change my User Name to Mum 79 now, as that is how long it is since I made that one! ......
ReplyDeleteHowever, I didn't know you were interested enough to go to a Jimmy Barnes concert, though you must have mentioned going to the other ones of his. Was the concert all in daylight or did it start in late afternoon and go on into evening? They usually do that especially in hot weather. I'm not a fan of his, though I like him as a person and in interviews, but I can't stand that 'screaming' of his that he passes for singing! I'm surprised he hasn't developed throat cancer, his voice must be really rough at the end of a concert! He's what we Yorkshire people call 'all shart and blate!' (shout and bleat) I think he has a soft ballard or two that he sings, and I don't mind those. I could probably be interested in his bio films and books, but wouldn't seek them out specifically. Have you seen/read them?
I'm not a fan of Kate Ceberano either though agree she is a good singer. She seemed to be on TV a lot quite a few years ago on shows etc and I got fed up of her being introduced! I watched the video, not bad but not my thing, not for her anyway. I think she is better with more classy songs. I didn't like what I could see of her dress with puffy sleeves I think.
I now Ice House and I like there well-know songs but can't remember them just now. Not familiar with other names but I think I have heard of them and I know Tucker's Daughter but I thought someone else sang that whose name I can't remember either. Sounded like a good concert though, and yes, it pays to be there well in advance of the concert start, so you can cover any hitches! At least 30mns before you really need to for parking etc, so, learn from this!
We, Lesley, Carl and I enjoyed the Cliff Richard concert and I made sure that we were going to be there at least an hour before start, including taking care of our evening meal. We were waiting about 30mns in lobby with everyone else before start.
I know that last bit was nothing to do with your topic and neither is the next bit, but I just thought I'd mention them. We, Lesley, Carl and his next door neighbour Liz are going to a free concert on Feb 14th in Gosnells behind the Agonis building in the parklands there to see 'lookalike/soundalike' The Beatles and Abba. We went to one before there last year when it was David Bowie and Queen and it was really good and enjoyable. There is food and water there and Security walking around. Families usually go, and it was all very well-behaved. I'm looking forward to it, gets me away from the telly in the evening!
Actually Kathy is the Jimmy Barnes fan, and the reason I've been to three of his concerts now... I like him but I've never really been a concert goer in general - didn't even look into seeing David Bowie when he toured here back in the day - and he's my favorite musical performer since I first started following music in my teens. Anyway there are links in the article to the other times I've seen Jimmy.
DeleteI liked Kate at this concert precisely because she wasn't singing in the style and songs of hers I'm more familiar with. Plus she just seemed to really be enjoying performing, moving around the stage when she wasn't at the drum kit, and giving the singing her all too. Was just impressive to watch.
Ice House are known for hits like 'Electric Blue', 'Crazy', and 'Great Southern Land' (which got the crowd on their feet when they played it). 'Tucker's Daughter' is an Ian Moss song - who performed before Ice House, and then returned to the stage with Jimmy to play guitar, since he's also a member of Cold Chisel.
Anyway, I would've loved to have seen that David Bowie and Queen lookalike concert you mentioned. We once went to a Beatles cover band concert at a local hotel but the sound system was too loud for the room for me. They were good but I couldn't enjoy it because of how loud it was. We stayed for more than half the show but left early because it was just too loud.
Well, as we are outside we should be alright. The other one didn't seem too loud and we were sitting sort of off to the side on the grass. Lesley thought that the mannerisms of David Bowie weren't always done properly, saying such as 'he didn't stand like that', but I thought he did them OK, and I recognised the stances. He did his regular songs, very enjoyable. The man who did Queen was very good.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why you didn't go to the David Bowie concert when you told me on Skype when I asked you if you were going to see Cliff Richard. I thought I should have asked. (you quipped, 'Well, I didn't go to see David Bowie, why would I be going to see Cliff Richard!') Very droll! I'd loved to have told Cliff that, I think he would have been quite amused! You did yourself a disfavour there, you should have treated yourself to see David Bowie. Concerts are good, especially when it's someone you are a real long-time fan of. I enjoyed the John Farnham concerts and the one and only Bee Gees concert I managed when the Entertainment Centre was still there. (love my DVD concerts of them, and John - saw him with Tom Jones too) Missed out on Barry Gibb as he cancelled because of too much work. We had our tickets too, still have, but got our money back in 2wks, over $200, including insurance. It cost over $200 for Cliff.
(I see there's an Edit Profile if I wanted to change the name, but I think I'll leave it, as I'm used to it) I probably would have enjoyed Kate 'live.' Yes, I remember those Ice House songs now, good songs.