Reviewed on Saturday October 18
“All hat and no cattle” is a phrase from the American South used for those who talk the talk, but can’t walk the walk. It immediately sprung to mind when it came to Melbourne’s Tim Wheatley. It felt as though he put more effort into his inner-city boho-chic look than anything to do with his actual performance. Not only did his songs sleep on substance and technique, but at times it sounded as though Wheatley himself was going to fall asleep while singing them. Much like his harmonica technique, Wheatley managed to suck and blow at the same time.
Gogarty are an intriguing prospect. The songwriting vehicle of the eponymous Kate, they are clearly going for a light, fluttery take on indie-pop recalling Frente!, Art Of Fighting and Rebecca’s Empire. That is, of course, until you make it to the other end of the stage. Ed Rodrigues is the living, breathing embodiment of that YouTube clip ‘This Drummer Is At The Wrong Gig’. With impeccable fills and lightning-quick patterns, it wasn’t long before you were watching him for whole songs at a time.
There was a warm sense of familiarity as soon as The Whitlams locked into the groove of opener ‘Fall For You’. The majority of tonight’s songs have long circulated in the ether of Australian music, and were recognisable from the opening chord. Tim Freedman often couldn’t be heard over the audience singing back to him, turning out old favourites ranging from the still-pertinent ‘Blow Up The Pokies’ and two-thirds of the beloved ‘Charlie’ trilogy. That’s not even mentioning that it wouldn’t be a Whitlams show without the entire crowd bellowing “MORE SAUCE!” during a particularly loose ‘I Make Hamburgers’.
Perhaps the show’s greatest strength, however, came in the form of left-field surprises. The four-song bracket that opens the band’s debut, Introducing, was wheeled out for the first time in God knows how long, lighting up eyes of devotees. Elsewhere, a faithful take on Harry Nilsson’s ‘Everybody’s Talkin’’ was an unexpected highlight, performed purely on the basis Freedman “used to hear it on the radio all the time”. Why not? Sending us off with an all-in ‘You Sound Like Louis Burdett’ and a bouncy ‘I Will Not Go Quietly (Duffy’s Song)’, The Whitlams made a pleasant and welcome return. Such fun to have around.
