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Lyric Theatre, Star City, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
April 20, 2004

by Colin Hadden

A very short review - where's the truck that hit me!

A couple of firsts. I hadn't been to the Lyric Theatre and I hadn't seen Don Airey. The Lyric is an all seating venue.
In 1999 I said the gig at Selina's (in Sydney) was the best I had ever seen and I put it down partly to the small venue even though it was a concrete room that had no atmosphere at all. I've seen them in 2001 as well and I have to say that the guys are still growing. That show last night, in a venue that was intimate but very comfortable and with three levels of seating, was a show I will remember for the rest of my life. There were some occasions where I was getting goosebumps from what was going on.
Thanx to Ian Gillan I had five seats about 15 rows from stage, stage centre. The view was wonderful.
A quick note on the support - Oz's Billy Thorpe who showed he still has it as Oz's King of Rock. A five (long) song slot - two songs from his new album in progress, one called Tangier, the other I don't know), Gangster of Love, Most people I Know Think that I'm Crazy and Ooh-Ooh-Pa-Doo.
Billy had the crowd eating out of his hands. A consummate showman, great singer and very good guitarist. His show was basically 50/50 - two songs of African/middle Eastern feel (Tangiers is very much in the mode of the Page/Plant version of Kashmir and would be worth the price of his new album by itself) followed by three boogie rock offerings that were great if you like that sort of thing - and I do!!!
Now to the stars.

Set list (from notes during concert)
1. Silver Tongue
2. Woman From Tokyo
3. I Got Your Number
4. Strange Kind of Woman
5. Bananas
6. Knocking At Your Back Door
7. Contact Lost, into
8. Well Dressed Guitar
9. Don solo
10. Perfect Strangers
11. Highway Star
12. Doing It Tonight
13. Lazy
14. When A Blind Man Cries
15. Space Trucking
16. Smoke
Encore 1. Hush
Encore 2. Black Night (preceded by a Roger/Ian bass and drum rhythm hitout that went for about 2 or 3 minutes).

I don't care what people say about not hearing some songs or hearing some too many. I have no complaints at all about last night (except maybe I still haven't been able to see The Aviator).
Silver Tongue and WFT saw them come out of the blocks like a runaway train. An absolute ball tearer of an opening that had the crowd rocking and screaming form the start. You could tell not everyone knew Silver but the reception was good. followed by a great rendition of WFT that the crowd appreciated.
I Got Your Number came across as a song that should be in the set list for a while - good, punchy, typical chugging riffs and great interaction.
SKOW again got a fabulous reaction and Bananas wowed the crowd even though I'm sure a lot of them hadn't heard it.
Ian's cryptic, playful and funny intro to KAYBD - starting with some taps on the mike as in a door knocker - looked as if it had many of the punters blank (where was the light in the fridge Ian?) but when the song was recognised another great reception.
Ian sat down on stage to catch his breath and introduce Contact Lost and Well Dressed Guitar. He gave a very moving address to Contact Lost and it was appreciated by all.
Highlight Number 1 - Well Dressed Guitar was, to me and my two brothers, one of the finest pieces of guitar playing we have ever heard. At least the equal of anything The Man In Black ever did, without any of the 70's noise and feedback. I don't think there was anything that he didn't do except use his feet. The crowd just erupted when he had finished. During his playing IG was behind him urging the crowd on to support Steve and the reaction to that showed what they thought. This was something really special and the standing ovation befitted the piece. Does anyone know if this is on DVD/video? [What? The show you saw or just that one song? Rasmus]
When I have been listening to Bananas I was really trying to hear what Don was like compared to Jon. Apart from his individual quirks my conclusion was that he fitted like a glove and last night proved it - and he did some chorus singing as well. He is really a top notch player and the thought crossed my mind that I'd love to see him and Jon in tandem. [Some of us already did in England September 2002. Rasmus] Bits of everything - classical, movies, Waltzing Matilda, atmospherics - loved it although the crowd reception was less than Steve's.
(Personal) highlight number 2 - Perfect Strangers - my favourite DP song. Tonight it was slowed down a little, just as I like it from a version I had heard somewhere years ago. I was getting goosebumps in this. The bloody song is something that should be compulsory in music lessons. And to see Ian doing Tai Chi and ballet steps across the stage in the semi dark was really great and funny.
Highlight Number 3 - Highway Star. This one got a full standing ovation. Although this is a great studio song live it is enormous. Everything was 110% including the crowd. A standing ovation (the second and I had not seen any at any previous concerts) that was thoroughly deserved. Shows the young guns how rock should be played.
Doing It Tonight - very good song. Love the rhythms and shuffles here. Probably the weakest on the night (but still well above what most bands are capable of) but I still enjoyed it.
Lazy - as a blues nut I love this and POH. This version smoked. Loved it.
Highlight Number 4 - WABMC. Steve has stripped back on his fills and the version last night was sublime. It was very well introduced and Ian showed that he is truly a gifted singer and communicator.
Space Trucking - wow! Didn't really expect to see this. It took me back to Randwick 1971 with its ferocity and sheer blast. The crowd were on their feet at the end but that might have been because they sensed Smoke was next. It deserved an ovation.
Highlight Number 5 - Smoke. This was a highlight because of the interaction between the crowd and the band. The fabulous fivesome set the place on fire here. All through the gig the atmosphere was electric. You could tell how it was affecting the band and it showed in how they were playing.
Highlight Number 6 - Hush. the crowd were still on their feet when they came back on stage. When the Na Nas started it was eruption time - and goosebumps time for me. Tremendous version with the crowd on their feet all the way.
Black Night - the intro to this was a two or three minute Roger and Ian P bass/drums groove that I hadn't seen before. It was really a grooving jam that showed the way the two "least noticed" members of the group go about their business. I hope it stays in because it is a surprisingly good interlude that gives them a chance to combine and groove without being overshadowed. It also included Hit The Road Jack and a little ditty about watching TV while playing with a little something that rhymed with TV - very funny and Ian actually lost it a couple of times. Black Night proper was a really good version, crisp, clear, rocking.
Last night is now my top concert of all time (being careful what I say as things grow dim with time in the past).
I hope that this tour is out on video with a full concert. If anyone has any influence please use it.

Backstage - only got to meet four of them (Paicey didn't show) and they were all genuinely fabulous.
IG is normally very friendly but when I introduced myself and said I was here because of the "What's The Time" comp last year he grabbed my shoulder, shook hands and was very, very enthusiastic in what he said. Great guy.
Don was quiet, Steve was mobbed and Roger was a true gentleman. He was very appreciative of the Butterfly Ball vinyl and Snapshot I took along. And a friend of mine is getting a birthday card signed by the four who were there. He might like that, I think.
That's enough. Sorry if it's long winded/worded but I think it deserved it.