Live: Cold Chisel w/ Grinspoon 19th November 2015 @ Rod Laver Arena
‘G’day’ was all we heard from Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson before the band quickly launched into their set with rock ‘n’ roll style and swagger, to what was still a fairly empty Rod Laver Arena. Having reformed to join Cold Chisel on the One Night Stand 2015 tour, the boys from Lismore seemed to enjoy being back in the spotlight once more.
With heart attack inducing bottom end, Grinspoon played a short but hit-filled set that included ‘Hard Act to Follow’, ‘Already One’, and ‘ Better off Alone’. Jamieson dedicated ‘Just Ace’ to his wife, as it was their 10th wedding anniversary. The song obviously shares a special meaning, however it is unlikely to be because of the song’s poetic message as, like a lot of early Grinspoon, it is seemingly nonsensical.
They were the ‘young’ band on the night, however when they introduced a song that they ‘wrote in 1995’, it is a reminder that they aren’t exactly new to the stage. ‘Chemical Heart’ elicited the one of the biggest responses from the crowd, which was by now filing in rapidly readiness for the main act.
Whilst there was quite a few Grinspoon fans up the front revelling in the short lived reformation of the band, obviously most were there for the headline act, a fact the opener seemed to be well aware of. They were tight, strutted around the stage in all the right ways, yet at times it felt like they were just going through the paces.
Set closer, the INXS hit ‘Don’t Change’, seemed to get the crowd moving, perhaps because it was the only song that the older members of the audience actually knew.
Amid huge applause Cold Chisel strolled onto a fairly simple stage, just instruments (including a lot of guitar amps) and a subtle lighting set up that seemed to be there to throw the spotlight onto each member when needed. Two big screens adorned either side of the stage, allowing for better viewing for those up in the nosebleeds.
‘Standing on the Outside’ from the 1980 album East began the night, the classic Cold Chisel sound immediately present. Intricate and clean guitar from Ian Moss, the piano of principal songwriter Don Walker, and the instantly recognisable voice of Jimmy Barnes. Although a lot older, Cold Chisel seemed to have lost none of their ability as individuals, and as a collective. Completed by original bass player Phil Small, as well as drummer Charley Drayton, who has been with the band since 2011 after the sad passing of original drummer Steve Prestwich.
The piano melody of ‘Choir Girl’ received an enormous cheer, one of the bands most successful hits, and rather surprisingly written from the female perspective. The Barnes penned ‘Rising Sun’, and the Moss sung ‘My Baby’ followed, the extensive back catalogue providing the band a seemingly endless supply of crowd favourites.
The first of the comparatively new material for the night was ‘All For You’, released in 2011 and the last song the band ever recorded with original drummer Steve Prestwich. New song ‘Mansions’ was met with enough cheers to assume that many in the crowd have already purchased the latest release The Perfect Crime.
‘Lost’ was a clear standout amongst the new material, and rather surprisingly co-written by Don Walker and Wes Carr (he of Australian Idol fame). With a catchy hook the slow blues track was enhanced by the three back up singers that had been on and off stage throughout the night.
The crowd were loud, full of energy and excited to be at a Cold Chisel show, an occurrence many probably never thought possible. Whilst there were many seemingly of the right age to have enjoyed Chisel back in the day, there were many younger fans that clearly discovered the band well after they first broke up. The set was a good mixture of well received new material as well as older songs, yet a sense of anticipation grew as the night went one, the audience knowing the truly big hits were still to come.
Despite the years that have passed Cold Chisel are still an impressive band live. Tight, with surprisingly intricate arrangements for a band known for being pub rock. Jimmy Barnes maintains an unbelievable amount of vocal power, even if it has lost the finesse that it once had. After an extensive solo career, Barnes seems happy to often play second fiddle to Ian Moss, and the joy he gets from being back with the musicians he has spent so much time with is obvious.
‘Cheap Wine’ began what would be the final six songs, all big hits, many of the fan favourites being left until the end. The screens either side of stage featured faces from the crowd, showing a diverse group all revelling in the presence of the Australian music icons. The pub rock origins of the band were further in evidence for ‘You Got Nothing I Want’ and ‘Merry Go Round’.
‘Flame Trees’ followed, a highlight of the night, and arguably the band’s finest moment. This was Moss and Barnes doing their best Page/Plant or Jagger/Richards. Arms around each other, sharing a mic for harmonies, Barnes resting his head on Moss’s shoulder just listening to him sing. These two have shared the stage together countless amount of times, and perhaps clashed in the past, but are clearly enjoying playing music together once again.
As expected Khe Sanh received a huge cheer, yet not the biggest of the night. It seems that perhaps the bogan anthem is more important to the drunk at the pub than the Cold Chisel fan. The epic ‘Bow River’ was the final song of the main set, known best for the version on the live album The Last Stand, released in 1984.
The first of two encores began with ‘ When The War Is Over’, a perfect sing a long song, ‘Forever Now’ and a live favourite ‘Don’t Let Go’, a Jesse Stone cover the band has been playing since they began. A second, and seemingly planned, encore opened with Moss and Walker doing a stripped back and beautiful cover of ‘Georgia On My Mind’, proving that Ian Moss is not only a great guitarist but still has the vocal abilities to match his counterpart. ‘Breakfast at Sweethearts’ was a quieter precursor to the appropriately titled ‘Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)’ to close the night, a live favourite that would have ended many shows in the years gone by.
It is a shame that Cold Chisel never made it into overseas markets back in the day, and they are seen as purveyors of low class Australian rock by those who don’t know any better. This is a band with numerous exceptional songwriters, an epic catalogue of diverse and wonderful songs, and the musical ability to still deliver it live. For those lucky enough to see them recently, then good on you for ignoring the stereotype and going to see some great music. For those who choose to ignore one of most important Australian bands of all time, then it is most definitely your loss.
Check out the full gallery here.
Setlist
Standing on the Outside
Letter to Alan
Choirgirl
Rising Sun
My Baby
All for You
The Mansions
Houndog
Saturday Night
Shipping Steel
Alone for You
Lost
Cheap Wine
HQ454 Monroe
You Got Nothing I Want
Merry-Go-Round
Flame Trees
Khe Sanh
Bow River
Encore:
When the War Is Over
Forever Now
Don’t Let Go
(Roy Hamilton cover)
Encore 2:
Georgia on My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael cover)
Breakfast at Sweethearts
Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)
