Driving to the concert I was wondering what the crowd would be like. Would it be a majority like me, the grey haired brigade or would it be a cross section of generations. It was definitely a cross section. Fathers and Mothers, sons and daughters, even grandchildren. I would say the age ranged from 10 years old to walking frames. This is proof of Jimmy’s ability to appeal to all ages and the generational handing down of the love of good Aussie/Scottish rock.
I have seen Jimmy Barnes many times over the decades, in pubs, nightclubs and stadiums, but tonight Jimmy and band are performing at the beautiful heritage listed Palais theatre in St. Kilda. The Palais was built in 1927 with gorgeous architecture, red velvet seats and pumping acoustics. This graceful old lady sure knows how to rock. Jimmy and the band raised the roof and had everyone on their feet.
With a smoky red lit stage. Taylor Sheridan walks out on stage. A lone country boy from Kyneton. With only a hat, a guitar and his voice. He has the toughest gig in town to warm up and entertain a theatre full of fans waiting for Barnsey. I have seen Taylor before and I knew he would be awesome. He came on stage at 8.09pm and played a 6-song set finishing at 8.41pm. Taylor is a story teller and there is a great yarn for everyone of his songs. His singer, song writer skills are top notch. Performed with an open and emotional voice and his guitar playing is masterful, highlighted by great sound acoustics.
Taylor played songs off his 1st album “Troubadour” which he explains means ‘a poet who writes verse to music ‘ and how a fan told him that he was a Troubadour, hence the album name. “Somebody’s Dad” the 3rd song of his set was dedicated to his new baby girl Mabel and was my favourite of the set. The crowd favourite dedicated to his mum was the surprising cover of ABBA’s SOS. He asked the crowd to help him do the one job he was employed for “warming up the crowd and also make me look good in front of my mum” who was in the audience. The crowd did not disappoint. Voices sang out loud and clear and the theatre became alive with the chorus of SOS. Taylor finished by saying he was honoured and stoked to be asked to perform before Jimmy and thanked the crowd for their love. And the crowd replied with huge applause.
Taylor Sheridan Gallery
So it’s 9.09pm and the crowd are waiting and getting restless. The lights go dark and the anticipation is mounting, then movement. The band appears, white lights flash and bang straight into the opening chords of “Flesh and Blood”. It’s a very simple stage set up. No gimmicks or razzle dazzle, just some great rock lighting.
Jimmy is dressed in black leather pants and a long sleeve black top. All the male musicians are dressed in black and the females in dresses. There are 9 on stage including Jimmy, that number swells to 12 over the performance. Of course Jimmy is front and centre. He is joined by his wife Jane and daughter E-J as well as Juanita Tippins on back up vocals (Jimmy’s version of the Ikettes) they also play tambourine, acoustic guitar and bag pipes. Jackie his son on drums, Benjamin Rodgers (Mahalia’s husband) on lead guitar, Clayton Doley on organ and keys, Michael Hegerty on bass and Danny Spencer on guitar. Throughout the performance he is joined by Dougie on the bag pipes. There was also a sneaky appearance of Ruby Rodgers (granddaughter) on back up vocals near the end of the show. Mahalia turned up on stage later in the evening straight from performing in Jesus Christ Superstar. This show is definitely a family affair and a joy to watch them all together. The Tinlids have all grown up.
The set list (see below) is made up of one song short of the whole album ‘Defiant’ to which Jane in Jimmy’s words said, “Are you effing nuts”, but it works. Jimmy gives the crowd a taste of the old with ‘Flesh and Blood’, ‘Die To Be With You Tonight’ and ‘Choir Girl’ then straight into nine songs off the new album. I thought this might not go down too well with the crowd playing all new songs, but it was loved, sung and cheered for just as much as the old. Though most of the crowd stayed seated up to this point. Song twelve saw Mahalia arrive on stage and the performance goes up another level. Song thirteen of the night ‘Flame trees’ and the crowd could not contain themselves anymore. They were up on their feet singing loudly with hands in the air. Jimmy kept placing his hand over his heart expressing he could feel the love. The crowd did not sit down again. It was full rock party mode for the rest of the performance. The mix of old and new was perfect. In my opinion it was one of Jimmy’s best shows I have ever seen. The band were pumping, with Jackie hitting the skins hard, Clayton’s boogie-woogie rock fingers on the keys, Benjamin & Danny’s guitar solos and riffs all backed up by a group of very talented musicians. Topped off with nearly everyone on stage singing back up vocals. Jimmy’s voice was on fire with his trademark raw gravelly rock growl.
The highlight of the night from the ‘Defiant’ album were Jane and Dougie on the bag pipes for ‘Beyond The Riverbend’. Jimmy didn’t waste time speaking so he could fit in so many of his hits into the set, but he did talk about Troy Cassar-Daley writing the song ‘Shut Down Our Town’ about Elizabeth where they both spent their younger years and how the Holden factory was the main employer. Jimmy and the band were on stage for 1 hour and 40 minutes. They played a 18-song set and just when the crowd were really going crazy they came back on and Mahalia and Jimmy blew the roof off with ‘Good Times’. Mahalia’s voice is so strong and powerful. Jimmy closed the encore with the classic (and you are un-Australian if you don’t know the words) ‘Khe Sanh’.
So with voices nearly gone the lights came on and we had to go home. None of us wanted to leave. Something I noticed about this performance is that Jimmy looked happy. I don’t know if it was the sneaky kiss on Jane’s cheek or being surrounded by his loved ones, but his angst and anger seemed to be replaced with happiness and appreciation. ‘Defiant’ was incredible and as I said before, one of the best performances of Jimmy Barnes I have seen. If you are lucky enough to have tickets for the remaining show you are in for a treat.
Photo Credit: Ozgreeny Photography
Special thanks to Frontier for the media accreditation & access.
Set List: Flesh and Blood, Die To Be With You Tonight, Choir Girl, New Day, The Long Road, Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t, That’s What You Do For Love, Never Stop Loving You, Dig Deep, Sea Of Love, Beyond The Riverbend, Defiant, Flame Trees, Shutting Down Our Town, Lay Down Your Gun, No Second Prize, Ride the Night Away, Working Class Man
Encore: Good times, Khe Sanh
JIMMY BARNES GALLERY
