Australian Indie rock band The Whitlams, have been going strong for over twenty years. And if last Friday night’s gig was anything to go by, they just keep getting better. Support act Battleships got the crowd nicely warmed up with their brand of Indie rock: a good choice of opener for the main attraction.
Kicking off with their seminal number “Gough”, The Whitlams filled the room with a clear, tight sound that didn’t let up all night. Lead singer/keyboardist, Tim Freedman, explained the “algebra” employed in their choice of song: one from each album, moving in chronological order. Songs on the set-list included “You Make Me Hard”, “Melbourne”, and “Old Man”, all delivered with power and precision. Freedman’s patter between songs is witty, engaging and relevant, whether he is chatting to the audience or to the rest of the band.
While Freedman stayed behind the keys, Jak Housen took the front position, and gave some great guitar. Rhythm section, Warwick Hornby on bass and Terapai Richmond on drums, drove the music, without drowning it. The capacity crowd loved every second, knowing every song, moving to the music and regularly singing along, especially in numbers such as “No Aphrodisiac” and “Blow Up the Pokies”. Brought back for three encore numbers, the punters left satisfied that Australian music is in good hands. This is an outfit that earns its money.
By Tracey Korsten
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