The Galvatrons, Dan Sultan,Kate Miller-Heidke and Husky @St.Kilda Festival, Melboure(08/02/2009)

Tue 10th Feb, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Despite the overcast conditions this is very much a family affair, with signs all around notifying patrons that the event is alcohol free and children clutching balloons and various show bags as they follow their parents around the festival. Although the inclement weather appears to have kept the usual bustling Festival crowd away, I hit South Beach Reserve just in time to see a small but dedicated audience eagerly awaiting the first act of the day.

Up and comers Husky opened the Beach stage with several tracks from their debut album Quiet Little Rage. The band’s moody presence blew me away and I wasn’t the only instant fan. As Husky plays On Fire raindrops begin to fall, but they do not deter the loose crowd that has formed, consisting mostly of young fans who are right up against the fence. In between songs Husky chats to the crowd, telling us what an honour it is to be opening the main show, having grown up in Brunswick and attending the St. Kilda Festival every year as a youngster.

After performing Someday, fans are treated to an exhilarating piano solo from keys player Gideon Preiss, earning loud cheers from a group of young female fans situated in the front row at centre stage. By now the audience has grown to a sizeable crowd and Husky finished with Pirates, creating a solid performance and setting the bar at a very high standard for the day’s entertainment ahead.

Although the grey sky threatens to soak festival fans, numbers appear to grow as patrons begin to fill the stage area in anticipation of one of Australia’s hottest young talents, Kate Miller-Heidke.

Opening with Little Adam, I’m sure there would have been some who were surprised by Miller-Heidke’s unique vocal style. That, however, would have changed with the performance of the second song; the crowd bobbing their heads to the upbeat and rhythmic I Like You Better When You’re Not Around.

As the show goes on, Miller-Heidke brings some fun into the crowd, telling of the band’s touring adventures when checking into their hotel. ‘When I wrote down my name the guy goes – œYou’re Kate Miller-Heidke! I know you! I’ll give you 5 bucks off, how’s that?’ So the price went from $95 to $90,’ she laughs. This is followed by the light-hearted Caught in the Crowd with most fans singing along. Audience involvement continued with God’s Gift to Women, Miller-Heidke strutting across the stage dancing with her band while enthusiasts sang along to her lyrical expressions.

Performing a cover of You’re the Voice as a tribute to John Farnham, fans had gotten everything they could ask for from a brilliant Miller-Heidke live show, no doubt disappointed that her set was just about over for the day.

Next to take the stage was Dan Sultan, who is fast becoming one of Australia’s most established Indigenous stars. Sultan’s shows always open with a bang and this one was no exception, with Lonesome Tears creating the mood for some brilliant rock with a country edge. Taking the pace back a notch with This Land Is Mine, Sultan sings about his sacred land with some soulful lyrics and up-tempo rock rhythms throughout the chorus.

Like the other artists before him, Sultan also interacts with his fans. Ditching his sunnies after Whip on Hide, one fan calls out and asks if he can have them and Dan plays along. ‘I actually only got these recently. They were 6 bucks; I should have gotten two pairs,’ he chuckles. ‘Twelve bucks for two pairs of sunglasses eh! Funny that you’d pay 14 bucks for a hamburger and 6 bucks for a pair of sunnies!’ Not all festival goers would know of Sultan, but many would be certain to remember him after the concert as I hear one fan saying ‘Oh my god, I love this band!’

The one thing I have always admired about Sultan is his brilliant range and smooth, velvet-like voice. His commanding presence on stage is also evident throughout every song, in particular with the brooding Voices, a bluesy-roots rock ballad. Not forgetting old favourite Your Love is Like a Song Sultan gets the crowd moving with his funky dance moves while the scorching horn lines create a soulful-rock edge.

Sultan and his band then play a cover of The Rolling Stones’ Happy; Dan’s co-writer Scott Wilson taking the lead in this classic number. And if the Stone’s isn’t enough then the tight seven piece bring out the thumping tempo, foot to the floor blues rock Money with Sultan and his tambourine tearing it up across the stage. The intensity and energy he puts into every song is truly amazing. Another exceptional performance from Sultan and his clan, feeling yet again like it went all too fast.

It was not to despair though, for the crowd were to be rocked – œback to the future’ by The Galvatrons who continued the dance-vibe set by Sultan. With the Superman theme blasting through the speakers before front man Johnny runs on stage, fans know that they will be treated to another classic Galvatrons performance.

Playing several – œwarm up’ numbers to get the crowd going, the Galvatrons bring out Donnie’s on TV before ‘going soft’ with She’s In Love. Soft, however, is hardly an accurate description as the boys have crashing cymbals and heavy guitar riffs throughout the song as their band of devotees rocks along.

Halfway through the set performance clouds hanging low create spatters of rain but it makes no difference to the die hard fans who are jumping, jiving and singing along to every number. With the band’s energy reflected in the audience’s involvement, one must truly admire the Galvatron’s electrifying show.

With crowd favourites Robots Are Cool and When We Were Kids prompting an increase in security, Johnny takes the intensity up even further, performing jumps, rolls and spins on centre stage. And if that wasn’t enough, he took the show OFF the stage and ran along the fencing, hi-fiving fans from one end right down to the other. His individual performance, coupled with the thrilling, yet silent keys man, animated drummer and the bass player that slid from one end of the stage to the other, was undoubtedly one of the day’s hottest acts.