The Governor Hindmarsh is arguably the best live music venue in South Australia. Music fans young and old with wide ranging tastes can enjoy great music in this relaxed open venue. It was not at its loudest, drunkenness or craziest on Tuesday night, but it was full of people and full of expectation for a very familiar voice.
Toni Childs is best known to Australian audiences for her 1991 hit I’ve Got To Go Now. Unfortunately her career came to a halt in 1997 after being diagnosed with Graves disease. Now, more than a decade on, she has returned to Australia in good health, with a new album and looking to relaunch her career.
Redhead’s Susie Keynes had the honour of starting the night. A perfect choice for the loyal Childs’ fans. Adelaide’s own Susie sang a solo set full of life. It can’t be easy playing to a crowd who have come to see someone else, but Susie almost demanded the audience’s attention, questioned their financial status and, later in the performance, forced the crowd to sing along. Susie must have won some fans with her talent and larrikin style.
Toni Childs came on stage looking healthy and nervous. Dressed down in jeans, long sleeved-T and without obvious makeup on, she filled The Gov with her unmistakable strong voice and was given a low key Adelaide welcome by a long neglected fan base. The old school crowd were experiencing something akin to religion. For every pair of knees not moving there were a set of eyes closed, honing the senses on that big American voice. Toni was well supported, especially with great thumps from her bass guitarist which were felt from the dancefloor up. Her new single One Life got people up and dancing and, outside her old hits and Because You’re Beautiful, was the big song of the night.
As the crowd thinned Toni came out and sat by the door to meet fans and sign autographs. Well wishings and outpourings of love were heaped upon her and she stayed out there right to the end, seemingly loving her return to the spotlight.
With Sydney struggling to sell all their tickets, but two shows in Newcastle sold out and, most importantly, the Adelaide gig a success, Toni still has some battling to do. After the battling she’s been doing though, surely she can manage it.
Toni Childs is due to return to Australia in February 2009.
