What better way to spend a delicious Adelaide spring evening than a night out on the tiles with not one, but two legends of Australian music in a double bill that had crowds jumping from one hit to another. It was definitely James Reyne’s house on both Friday and Saturday nights at The Gov, but guests Pseudo Echo were an energetic and well-chosen act to warm things up. Brian Canham sounds even better than he did as the front man of the 80’s new-wave sensation, and the more you listen to Pseudo Echo it’s easy to suggest that these guys were well ahead of their time musically. The blend of industrial/synth, and the ubiquitous ‘keytar’ were synonymous with new wave groups of the 80’s and were the precursor to more bold experimental music styles such as techno and house. Echo’s repertoire of hit songs like Don’t Go, Beat For You, Living In A Dream, and Listening were masterfully executed and truth be told, sounded better than the originals. Their cover of Real Life’s Send me An Angel was sublime, and judging by the audience’s rapturous applause, was a favourite. They finished with their major hit, Funky Town, which was laced with some of AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds thrown in for good measure. All in all- a solid band with a great presence still.
But of course the headline act needed little or no fanfare to make him feel welcome, as James Reyne was given a very heartfelt Adelaide welcome by the capacity house who, for the most part, grew up on his music which resonates with the Aussie psyche for its unbridled observation of Australiana. Opening with House Of Cards, Reyne and his incredible band The Magnificent Few consisting of Brett Kingman (Guitar), John Watson (Drums), Andy McIvor (Bass), and Guitar legend Phil Ceberano, collectively ripped through song after song of Reyne’s hits from his Australian Crawl, Company of Strangers, and solo careers.
Hearing these great songs has a tendency to evoke a million and one emotions and memories of certain moments in our lives, and I’ll revisit a term I’ve used before and say that they serve as ‘bookmarks to our lives.’ You identify with the music, the lyrics, the references, and even Reyne’s signature ‘Australian drawl’. It’s a part of us; it speaks for us, and in the case of many of the older numbers, reminds us of our youth and our innocence. Reyne is an all round Aussie good guy and we identify with him, which makes his music so unashamedly ‘Strine’.
I had the privilege to interview with him weeks back (Click here) and can attest to the fact that he’s really that guy you see up there on stage. No pretense, no bullshit, just a decent Aussie bloke that’s put out some bloody great songs such as Beautiful People, Reckless, Errol, One More River, and of course Oh No, Not You Again.To still be pulling full houses after 40 years, you’ve gotta be doing something right! For James Reyne, he’s just got way better with age, so to speak.
Fans can look forward to his return in January with 80’s gurus Moving Pictures, and if last night’s show was any indication this will be just as amazing, if not better. Bring it on! Details here.
Review by Darren Hassan
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