Morning of the Earth was somewhat of a cult film and didn’t really reach a wider audience; it was only really appreciated within the surfie scene. For some people the Morning of the Earth was more than a film it was a way of life, it showed how the surfer/hippie lifestyle was one of simplicity, this ideal is still prevalent in today’s society, maybe not representative of how people live their lives, but how people want to live their lives.
This concert was a collaboration of the musicians who provided the soundtrack to Morning of the Earth; all the performers who were on the soundtrack reformed just for these series of concerts. Throughout the concert the back drop was footage from the movie with other short films made by various film maker’s also about the ocean and surfing. the songs were also interspersed by commentary from the director of Morning of the Earth Alby Falzon. He’s hoping a younger generation would watch this film and see how life should be brought back to the basics of living a minimalist life, living of the land, appreciating the beautiful Australian seas and respecting all people around you. This ideal might sound a bit of a clichéd but I would like to think that is what all people want with their lives, instead of living a life a consumerism, which unfortunately is where today’s youth culture is heading.
The performances were outstanding all through out the concert the orchestra and the session musicians recreated the soundtrack perfectly, the first song was the title track which was sung by G Wayne Thomas who was a former member of the Aussie Prog rock cult hero’s Taman Shud, Thomas voice and guitar playing were fantastic and didn’t show any wear or tear. Thomas guitar skills shone brightly on the Latin tinged track Sea the Swells, Thomas also produced the soundtrack, and while watching footage from the film it showed how perfectly matched the music and footage were.
Helping out on vocal duties though out the night were contemporary musicians Lior and Old Man River, these two younger guys help flesh out the songs beautifully. There were amazing highlights all though out the night, the best was saved til last when all the singers came out and sang together on the anthemic song Open Up Your Heart. Other performers included stalwart Brian Cadd, who after all these years can still work the crowd with his banter.
Of all the performances tonight the one who stood head and shoulders above every one was Mike Rudd, former singer of Spectrum. Of all the performers of his era he’s a true original voice and an amazing distinctive singer.
